Structure of Nests and Colony Sizes of the European Hornet (Vespa crabro) and Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica) (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in Urban Conditions

Abstract

Studies of different groups of insects in urban areas sometimes show large populations, greater than in non-urban areas. The reason for this is a presence in the cities some of dominating species which often occur almost en masse.This group includes, inter alia, hymenopterans and especially social wasps (Vespinae). Colonies and nests of two wasp species, the European hornet (Vespa crabro) and Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica) in areas of the city of Łódź in Poland were studied. Whole colonies positioned both in buildings as well in natural places, size of societies, parameters their nests, differentiation of cells in combs and their location were investigated. We also studied the correlation between the size of the nest and societies of these insects. It was found that nests established in the buildings are much larger, produced more individuals of reproductive castes and thus obtained a better reproductivesuccess especially for the hornet colonies whose queens prefer the buildings as a place to nest.

Nest characteristics and associates of Dolichovespula (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in Central Finland

“…In addition to natural objects, they were found in many anthropogenic objects. The results underscore flexibility in nesting locations and ability to utilize anthropogenic locations (at least D. saxonica and D. media; see also Archer 2006;Nadolski 2012). Because nest location can affect colony size, nest characteristics, and the production of sexual castes (for D. saxonica see Nadolski 2012), some interspecific differences may result from the ecological context rather than being evolutionary traits.…”

“…The studied Dolichovespula species had more similarities than differences and the colonies were of typical size for Dolichovespula (see Archer 2006). The typical number of combs was three to five in all the studied species (see also Archer 2012;Nadolski 2012). The number of combs in D. saxonica nests varied the most, which may result from the diverse nest locations (Nadolski 2012) and larger number of prematurely ceased or collected nests.…”

“…The extant studies have been conducted in very different geographical locations and suggest geographical variation in the biology of Dolichovespula (e.g. US, Greene et al 1976;Gambino 1995;Japan, Makino 1982;UK, Archer 2000, 2002Poland, Pawlikowski and Pawlikowski 2010;Nadolski 2012Nadolski , 2013. I studied the colony and nest characteristics, as well as the nest associates, of D. saxonica, D. media and D. norwegica in boreal Central Finland.…”

Embryo, Relocation and Secondary Nests of the Invasive Species Vespa velutina in Galicia (NW Spain)

“…Concerning the emplacement, embryo nests were detected mainly in habited areas, in buildings, or human activity related sites such as in its native areas Taiwan [ 39 ] and Thailand [ 40 ], and the invasive areas such as South Korea [ 17 ] and France [ 29 ]. This ability to use protected sites to construct nests in early spring, allows them to be protected in adverse circumstances when the nests are more vulnerable to climatic conditions due to the fragility and weakness of the cover as occurs with other species such as V. crabro and Dolichovespula saxonica [ 41 ]. However, high positions in trees provide secondary nests a safe place to live and probably the raw material needed to form nest cover, without the need to move long distances [ 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

“…This meconium layer is ejected from larvae before metamorphosis and deposited at the bottom of the cell and is not removed [ 9 , 27 ]. The last built combs of the nest are used mainly for reproductive individuals, males, and gynes and only one meconium was found in them as was described for V. crabro [ 41 ].…”