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To assess vespicochory in Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae), we conducted preliminary observations of Aristolochia shimadae under cultivation and in its natural habitat. Two paper wasp species (Polistes spp.) were observed visiting freshly dehisced capsules of cultivated plants of A. shimadae. After removing the seed from the capsule and licking the juicy and sticky substance surrounding it, paper wasps bit off and carried away only a part of the raphe. This behavior suggests that the capsule, including the substance surrounding the seeds, is attractive to them, and the raphe is equivalent to an elaiosome. In our field observations of A. shimadae in a natural habitat, a wasp (Vespula shidai) carried away a seed after licking the juicy and sticky substance surrounding it. This observation of vespicochory is the first report on A. shimadae and the first on angiosperms in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venom immunotherapy (VIT) protects up to 98% of treated Hymenoptera allergy patients from reactions with new stings. A correct diagnosis with the identification of the venom causing the allergic reaction is essential to implementing it. The knowledge of the Hymenoptera foraging habits when the sting takes place in a food environment would allow the culprit insect to be known. Images of Hymenoptera occurring in environments where there was human food were recorded in Spain, including the date of the image, the place description and its geolocation. The insects' genus and species were identified by an entomologist. Results: One hundred and fifty-five images depicting 71 insects were analyzed. The identified insects were Vespula (56), Vespa (7), Polistes (4), Cerceris (2), Bombus (1) and Apis (1). Most (97.1%) of the images were obtained in summer and early autumn, outdoors in terraces (64%). Meat was the food associated with 47.9% of the images. In protein-rich foods, Vespula was found in 89%. Conclusions: Vespula was the main Hymenoptera associated with food environments in our country (78.87%), and in most of the cases (71%), the food involved is a source of protein, such as meat or seafood. In that environment, the probability that the insect is a Vespula would be 89%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are a global threat to honeybees, and spillover from managed bees threaten wider insect populations. Deformed wing virus (DWV), a widespread virus that has become emergent in conjunction with the spread of the mite Varroa destructor, is thought to be partly responsible for global colony losses. The arrival of Varroa in honeybee populations causes a dramatic loss of viral genotypic diversity, favouring a few virulent strains. Here, we investigate DWV spillover in an invasive Hawaiian population of the wasp, Vespula pensylvanica, a honeybee predator and honey-raider. We show that Vespula underwent a parallel loss in DWV variant diversity upon the arrival of Varroa, despite the mite being a honeybee specialist. The observed shift in Vespula DWV and the variant-sharing between Vespula and Apis suggest that these wasps can acquire DWV directly or indirectly from honeybees. Apis prey items collected from Vespula foragers were positive for DWV, indicating predation is a possible route of transmission. We also sought cascading effects of DWV shifts in a broader Vespula pathogen community. We identified concurrent changes in a suite of additional pathogens, as well as shifts in the associations between these pathogens in Vespula. These findings reveal how hidden effects of the Varroa mite can, via spillover, transform the composition of pathogens in interacting species, with potential knock-on effects for entire pathogen communities.

Behavioral shifts in animals are often driven by ontogenetic processes such as aging or life experiences, through changes in their physiology and/or gene expression. Colonies of eusocial animals such as social hymenopterans may experience behavioral shifts at the colony-level due to maturation and/or experience throughout the colony cycle. In this study, we investigated the nest defense behavior of social wasp Vespula vulgaris colonies and whether behavioral changes over time or differences in experience with simulated threats can affect aggressive response. Colonies were divided into two treatment groups and experimentally disturbed over a seven-week period by simulating a mammal attack. This procedure was carried out for "hi-freq" colonies on a weekly basis (weeks 1–6), whereas "lo-freq" groups were disturbed once every three weeks (weeks 1, 3, and 7). We show that nest defense behavior in V. vulgaris decreases over time, towards the end of the colony cycle, regardless of how frequently they faced a simulated predator attack. We found no evidence that undisturbed foraging activity or nest size could be used to predict defensive behavior. Our results show anti-predator colony behaviors in Vespula are influenced by the colony cycle, possibly through demographic shifts over time: colonies near their decline are less likely to respond to a simulated threat when compared to earlier in the season. We propose colony behavior is strongly engrained in seasonality and internal development, to a degree that it might overrule the effect of interactions with potential predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venom immunotherapy (VIT) protects up to 98% of treated Hymenoptera allergy patients from reactions with new stings. A correct diagnosis with the identification of the venom causing the allergic reaction is essential to implementing it. The knowledge of the Hymenoptera foraging habits when the sting takes place in a food environment would allow the culprit insect to be known. Images of Hymenoptera occurring in environments where there was human food were recorded in Spain, including the date of the image, the place description and its geolocation. The insects’ genus and species were identified by an entomologist. Results: One hundred and fifty-five images depicting 71 insects were analyzed. The identified insects were Vespula (56), Vespa (7), Polistes (4), Cerceris (2), Bombus (1) and Apis (1). Most (97.1%) of the images were obtained in summer and early autumn, outdoors in terraces (64%). Meat was the food associated with 47.9% of the images. In protein-rich foods, Vespula was found in 89%. Conclusions: Vespula was the main Hymenoptera associated with food environments in our country (78.87%), and in most of the cases (71%), the food involved is a source of protein, such as meat or seafood. In that environment, the probability that the insect is a Vespula would be 89%.

Background/aim: Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the most effective treatment method to prevent recurrent systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings. In this study, the demographic characteristics of VIT patients, the success rates of VIT, the difficulties we encountered during VIT, and solutions for these difficulties in our clinic were presented. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with venom allergy who applied venom immunotherapy between 20132020. Data on age, gender, Hymenoptera species with the first reaction, grade of the reaction, beekeeping history, skin prick and specific IgE and component results, double sensitization, blood groups, and reactions with VIT and/or sting during built-up and maintenance periods were recorded. Results: A total of 73 patients were enrolled in the study. The median time from the first sting reaction to the application to the allergy outpatient clinic was 12 (0.5-24) months. The first sting reaction of 38 (52.1%) of the patients was with honey bees, and 24 (32.9%) were with wasps. Double positivity was present in 29 (40%) of the patients in prick results and 26 (36%) serologically. There was no correlation between the severity of first reactions and Apis Mellifera or Vespula prick diameters (p = 0.643; r = -0.056; p = 0.462; r = 0.089, respectively). High-dose VIT was administered to 4 patients. Omalizumab has been used as an alternative agent to achieve the maintenance dose in 2 patients with frequent systemic reactions during VIT. Conclusion: Most patients were able to tolerate VIT. Double positivity is one of the most common difficulties before VIT. In patients who develop systemic reactions in the VIT maintenance phase, a maintenance dose increase should be considered in the maintenance phase. Adding omalizumab does not seem to be a permanent solution in patients who develop a severe systemic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pest insects are often baited with poisoned feeding stimulants, the most common of which are sugars. However, sugars are attractive for most animal species, which makes it difficult to target only a specific pest insect species. Here, we assessed different sugar alcohols for their potential as more species‐selective feeding stimulants for pest insects. Results: We tested the attractiveness of the sugar alcohols sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol with a capillary feeder assay in wasps (as potential pest insects, because introduced wasps are a pest in many regions) and bees (as non‐target insects). For the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), sorbitol and xylitol acted as nutritive feeding stimulants, and erythritol acted as a non‐nutritive feeding stimulant. For the buff‐tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), sorbitol acted as a feeding stimulant, while for the honey bee (Apis mellifera), none of the sugar alcohols acted as feeding stimulant. Conclusion: The species‐specific preferences for sugar alcohols suggest their potential as species‐selective insect baits. The wasp‐specific preference for xylitol suggests its potential as a bee‐safe alternative to sugar‐containing bait for controlling the common wasp. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of the predatory Giant Asian Hornet, Vespa mandarinia Smith, to North America in 2019 has motivated efforts to create early detection systems for this and other non-native social wasp species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Various trap and bait combinations have been used for this purpose, most of which require assembly and materials that are costly, reducing their usefulness in large-scale survey systems. This study tests an inexpensive and efficient trapping technique for detecting or surveying vespine wasps. Traps were made from reused plastic bottles containing a brown sugar and water bait. They were deployed at heights ranging from 0-6 m above ground in several configurations. Captures for traps suspended 1 m or greater above ground were, on average, nine times higher than the catch of ground-level traps. A rapid trap deployment method for large geographic areas was created, which captured seven different vespine wasp species along a 395 km east-west road transect from mountains to coastal plain in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The trapping design and survey methodology described below is inexpensive and fast and could be used by land managers or citizen scientists to detect V. mandarinia, other exotic vespine, or conducted on a large-scale vespine diversity survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Bee venom contains various biomolecules, such as enzymes, peptides, and amines. The immune sys-tem produces IgG antibodies against bee venom proteins. However, IgE antibodies may also be developed in allergic individuals. OBJECTIVES: In this study, immune responses, including IgG and IgE reactions to bee venom were assessed in vari-ous individuals, using the immunoblotting technique. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 20 people of three major groups, namely beekeepers, allergic individu-als, and normal people. Venom samples of honey bees and wild bees were collected from the suburbs of Tehran, Iran. Furthermore, commercial honey bee venom samples extracted from Apis mellifera and samples of wild bees extracted from Polistes and Vespula were purchased from France. Immunoblotting was carried out using the sera of subjects and anti-human IgG and IgE coupled to horseradish peroxidase. RESULTS: The results of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed similar protein bands in Iranian and European honey bee venoms, including α-glucosidase (170 kDa), Api m (100 kDa), acid phosphatase (49 kDa), hyaluronidase (43 kDa), phospholipase A2 (17 kDa), and melittin (2 kDa). In wild bees, two bands were found with the molecular weights of 35 and 25 kDa belonging to antigen 5 and phospholipase A1, respectively. These were not observed in honey bee venoms. Immunoblot analysis revealed that all the mentioned proteins were immunogenic and al-lergenic in different individuals. Hyaluronidase, as well as phospholipases A1 and A2, were the major allergens in most individuals, while IgE reaction to melittin was only reported in one person. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, studies on antibodies against bee venoms can be useful in immunotherapy. Different people indicated distinct allergenic patterns. Therefore, further similar assays are recommended before, during, and after immunotherapy.

Invasive species cause extensive damage to their introduced ranges. Ocean archipelagos are particularly vulnerable to invasive taxa. In this study, we used polymorphic microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic structure of the social wasp Vespula pensylvanica in its native range of North America and its introduced range in the archipelago of Hawaii. Our goal was to gain a better understanding of the invasion dynamics of social species and the processes affecting biological invasions. We found that V. pensylvanica showed no significant genetic isolation by distance and little genetic structure over a span of 2000 km in its native range. This result suggests that V. pensylvanica can successfully disperse across large distances either through natural- or human-mediated mechanisms. In contrast to the genetic patterns observed in the native range, we found substantial genetic structure in the invasive V. pensylvanica range in Hawaii. The strong patterns of genetic differentiation within and between the Hawaiian Islands may reflect the effects of geographic barriers and invasion history on gene flow. We also found some evidence for gene flow between the different islands of Hawaii which was likely mediated through human activity. Overall, this study provides insight on how geographic barriers, invasion history, and human activity can shape population genetic structure of invasive species.

As anthropogenic disturbance continues to encroach on natural areas, it is imperative to establish how this disturbance affects species assemblages. Yellowjackets are important predators of a wide range of arthropods, acting as natural population control in many ecosystems. This study seeks to explore how Vespinae community structure shifts with increasing land development in a temperate North American environment.Yellowjackets were sampled from May to September 2019 using heptyl butyrate and acetic acid plus isobutanol traps. Sampling sites represented a gradient of developed landscapes, from fully forested to entirely developed. Seven species from the genera Dolichovespula and Vespula were trapped during the study.Yellowjacket community structure was found to be significantly affected by the amount of land development. These results were driven by the replacement of Vespula consobrina with Vespula germanica in urban landscapes. A high level of development, greater than 75%, reduced species abundance relative to the fully forested landscapes, primarily due to the loss of Vespula pensylvanica and V. consobrina.Our results highlight that the replacement of forested areas with urban development causes a shift in yellowjacket community composition, favouring generalist scavengers (e.g. V. germanica) and threatening the abundance of forest specialists such as V. consobrina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social wasps are often considered as nuisance pests in urban environments and are often controlled by using traps. The majority of commercially produced traps for catching wasps have yellow as the dominant colour around the trap entrance. However, the observations on the function of yellow as an attractant for wasps are controversial. The efficiency of yellow, compared with green striped (N = 15) and yellow and green striped beer traps (N = 15) was evaluated. According to the results, yellow does not have a specific role as an attractant for wasps of the genera Vespula Linnaeus and Dolichovespula (Rohwer). For wasps, it may be the bait that is the major lure and it might be sufficient on its own for both control and monitoring purposes.

The social vespid wasps are common insect predators and several species behave in unison in the same biotopes. It is commonly accepted that social wasps are mainly opportunistic generalist predators without differences in prey selection and hence they compete for the same food resources. Trophic positions of six vespid wasp species and their potential prey from four sites in Finland and one in the UK were evaluated using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N). The difference in isotope values indicated different trophic positions among species. In general, Dolichovespula spp. showed higher δ15N values than Vespula spp., which suggests that Dolichovespula forage on higher trophic levels. Dolichovespula media (Retzius, 1783) showed the highest δ15N values, whereas Vespula vulgaris showed the lowest. Dolichovespula media partly expresses apex predator-like δ15N values, whereas Vespula species tend to forage on primary consumers. The largest species Vespa crabro (Linnaeus, 1758) showed also similar δ15N values as Vespula spp. However, δ13C and δ15N values of V. vulgaris workers varied slightly during the season. This study offers novel insights about the trophic segregation in the social wasp community, suggesting specialization in diet resource utilization, especially between Dolichovespula and Vespula.

Invasive alien species can cause detrimental changes in native ecosystems, but our understanding of the interactions between multiple exotic species is limited. To evaluate the joint effect of multiple sympatric invaders on an ecosystem, we must first understand how they interact with each other.Here, we quantified the spatial distribution, dietary composition and overlap of four invasive generalist vespid species (two Vespula and two Polistes) that co‐occur on Ahuahu off the north‐east coast of New Zealand. We used DNA metabarcoding of larval faecal material to identify prey species, and mapped the locations of nests.We observed clear spatial partitioning, with different wasp species aggregating in different habitats. Diet differed both among wasp species (diet partitioning) and among seasons (temporal partitioning). There was stronger competition (highest diet overlap) between Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris than between other wasp species, but partitioning resources minimised spatial and diet overlap between the four species.Additionally, we obtained high‐resolution diet inventories that help assess the combined ecological impact of invasion by multiple wasps. These species consumed mostly native and endemic invertebrates from multiple trophic levels, but particularly herbivores (Lepidoptera). We provide direct evidence that in combination they exploited a wide range of endemic invertebrates.Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates resource partitioning among four invasive wasps, facilitating coexistence of these generalist invaders. We conclude that coexistence probably amplifies their ecological impact. Quantifying how multiple invaders exploit and partition resources provides insights into how communities assemble and helps to assess the cumulative effects of multiple invaders on the recipient community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management and removal of invasive species may give rise to unanticipated changes in plant-pollinator mutualisms because they can alter the composition and functioning of plant-pollinator interactions in a variety of ways. To utilize a functional approach for invasive species management, we examined the restoration of plant-pollinator mutualisms following the large-scale removal of an invasive nectar thief and arthropod predator, Vespula pensylvanica. We reduced V. pensylvanica populations in large plots managed over multiple years to examine the response of plant-pollinator mutualisms and the fruit production of a functionally important endemic Hawaiian tree species, Metrosideros polymorpha. To integrate knowledge of the invader's behaviour and the plant's mating system, we determined the efficacy of V. pensylvanica as a pollinator of M. polymorpha and quantified the dependence of M. polymorpha on animal pollination (e.g. level of self-compatibility and pollen limitation). The reduction of V. pensylvanica in managed sites, when compared to unmanaged sites, resulted in a significant increase in the visitation rates of effective bee pollinators (e.g. introduced Apis mellifera and native Hylaeus spp.) and in the fruit production of M. polymorpha. Apis mellifera, following the management of V. pensylvanica, appears to be acting as a substitute pollinator for M. polymorpha, replacing extinct or threatened bird and bee species in our study system. Synthesis and applications. Fruit production of the native M. polymorpha was increased after management of the invasive pollinator predator V. pensylvanica; however, the main pollinators were no longer native but introduced. This research thus demonstrates the diverse impacts of introduced species on ecological function and the ambiguous role they play in restoration. We recommend incorporating ecological function and context into invasive species management as this approach may enable conservation managers to simultaneously minimize the negative and maximize the positive impacts (e.g. taxon substitution) of introduced species. Such novel restoration approaches are needed, especially in highly degraded ecosystems. Fruit production of the native M. polymorpha was increased after management of the invasive pollinator predator V. pensylvanica; however, the main pollinators were no longer native but introduced. This research thus demonstrates the diverse impacts of introduced species on ecological function and the ambiguous role they play in restoration. We recommend incorporating ecological function and context into invasive species management as this approach may enable conservation managers to simultaneously minimize the negative and maximize the positive impacts (e.g. taxon substitution) of introduced species. Such novel restoration approaches are needed, especially in highly degraded ecosystems. © 2012 British Ecological Society.

Summary: Background. Vespula spp. and Polistes spp. are relevant species in South Europe, with Vespa velutina nigrithorax (VVN) being considered a public health problem. We aimed to characterize a cohort of Portuguese patients referred for large local reaction (LLR) and/or systemic reaction (SR) to vespids. In patients treated with venom immunotherapy (VIT), induction protocol and frequency of adverse reactions were evaluated. Methods. Retrospective study including patients with LLR and SR to vespids referred to our Immunoallergology Department (2008-2022). Results. A total of 129 patients were evaluated, the majority were male adults (n = 77, 59.7%), from rural areas. From these, 51 patients had SR (Mueller classification: 7.8% grade I, 19.6% grade II, 37.3% grade III, 35.3% grade IV). We found no differences regarding the levels of total serum IgE, basal serum tryptase value, sIgE levels to the eliciting venom or their molecular components, regarding the severity of the SR that motivated the referral to our clinic. In the SR group, previous LLR Hymenoptera sting were reported in 15.7%. Thirty-eight patients (74.5%) initiated VIT: 22 with wasp venom, 14 with paper wasp venom and 2 with Vespa velutina venom. There was one mild systemic reaction, not requiring adrenaline and 4 LLR. Re-stings after VIT occurred in 16 patients, without any systemic or local reactions. Currently, eleven patients remain under VIT. Conclusions. Most vespid-venom allergic patients are male adults from rural areas. Sensitization to wasp venom was present in 52.9%, paper wasp in 33.3% and Vespa velutina in 13.7%. The frequency of adverse reactions during both induction and maintenance phases appears to be low. Despite a reduced sample size, our experience with VVN VIT, suggests its safety.

Wasp allergy with a diagnostic profile of double sensitizations to vespid venom is a frequent clinical problem in areas where different genera of wasps are present. Identification of the insect responsible for serious reactions poses a diagnostic challenge as the only effective treatment to date is immunotherapy based on the specific venom. In southern Europe, the double sensitization to Vespula and Polistes venoms is highly frequent. It has been shown that the major allergenic proteins (Phospholipase A1 and Antigen 5) share sequences across the different genera and species, which would be the cause of cross-reactivity. Additionally, the minor allergens (Dipeptidyl-peptidases, Vitellogenins) have been found to share partial sequence identity. Furthermore, venom contains other homologous proteins whose allergenic nature still remains to be clarified. The traditional diagnostic tools available are insufficient to discriminate between allergy to Vespula and Polistes in a high number of cases. IgE inhibition is the technique that best identifies the cross-reactivity. When a double sensitization has indeed been shown to exist or great uncertainty surrounds the primary sensitization, therapy with two venoms is advisable to guarantee the safety of the patient. In this case, a strategy involving alternate administration that combines effectiveness with efficiency is possible.

BACKGROUND: Bee venom contains various biomolecules, such as enzymes, peptides, and amines. The immune system produces IgG antibodies against bee venom proteins. However, IgE antibodies may also be developed in allergic individuals. OBJECTIVES: In this study, immune responses, including IgG and IgE reactions to bee venom were assessed in various individuals, using the immunoblotting technique. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 20 people of three major groups, namely beekeepers, allergic individuals, and normal people. Venom samples of honey bees and wild bees were collected from the suburbs of Tehran, Iran. Furthermore, commercial honey bee venom samples extracted from Apis mellifera and samples of wild bees extracted from Polistes and Vespula were purchased from France. Immunoblotting was carried out using the sera of subjects and antihuman IgG and IgE coupled to horseradish peroxidase. RESULTS: The results of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed similar protein bands in Iranian and European honey bee venoms, including α-glucosidase (170 kDa), Api m (100 kDa), acid phosphatase (49 kDa), hyaluronidase (43 kDa), phospholipase A2 (17 kDa), and melittin (2 kDa). In wild bees, two bands were found with the molecular weights of 35 and 25 kDa belonging to antigen 5 and phospholipase A1, respectively. These were not observed in honey bee venoms. Immunoblot analysis revealed that all the mentioned proteins were immunogenic and allergenic in different individuals. Hyaluronidase, as well as phospholipases A1 and A2, were the major allergens in most individuals, while IgE reaction to melittin was only reported in one person. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, studies on antibodies against bee venoms can be useful in immunotherapy. Different people indicated distinct allergenic patterns. Therefore, further similar assays are recommended before, during, and after immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of wasps (Vespula spp.) suggest that, contrary to an 1878 report, they do not work their way from the last-opened to the first-opened flowers when visiting figwort (Scrophularia spp.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The German wasp (Vespula germanica) is a highly successful invader on a global scale. These wasps were first observed in the Western Cape region in South Africa in 1972, and they have the potential to expand their range and cause significant damage to the native biodiversity. Our study used nuclear (DNA microsatellites) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 42 wasp colonies to analyse the population genetics of V. germanica in their invaded South African range. We sequenced three mitochondrial genes; cytochrome c oxidase I, cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase II. We found six mtDNA haplotypes present in South Africa. Although only a single fertilized queen is sufficient for the establishment of a wasp nest, the probability of a single introduced queen to successfully establish a nest and a population is very small. If multiple queens were introduced at the same time, the probability for more than one haplotype being transferred to the new population increases. Therefore, the true number of queen introductions occurred in South Africa can be inferred to be between two and six. We examined nine microsatellite loci and found weak-to-no genetic sub-structuring, likely due to high dispersal rates. We concluded that German wasps in South Africa maintain a homogenous population with movement of individuals between localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social insects can modulate body temperature to increase foraging efficiency; however, little is known about how the relative value of protein resources affects forager body temperature. Such regulation may be important given that colony growth is often limited by protein availability. In this paper, we present what are, to our knowledge, the first data for social insects showing that thoracic temperatures (T (th)) of foragers increase with the protein content of food resources. In an introduced population of western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica), we measured T (th) of foragers collecting high-quality protein (100% canned chicken) and low-quality protein (50% canned chicken, 50% indigestible alpha-cellulose by volume) at different ambient air temperatures (T (a)). Wasps foraging on 100% chicken consistently exhibited higher T (th) compared to wasps foraging on 50% chicken. After correcting for T (a), the mean T (th) for wasps collecting 100% chicken were 1.98 degrees C higher than those of individuals collecting 50% chicken. We suggest that this mechanism may increase foraging efficiency in this and other social wasp species.

Insects vary in the degree of their adaptability to environmental contamination. Determining the responses with phenotypic plasticity in ecologically important species in polluted environments will ease further conservation and control actions. Here, we investigated morphological characteristics such as body size, body mass, and color of the common wasp Vespula vulgaris in an industrially polluted environment, considering different levels of metal pollution, and we studied the localization of contaminants in the guts of wasps. We revealed some differences in morphological characteristics and melanization of wasps collected in habitats with high, moderate, and low levels of pollution. The results indicated that V. vulgaris from highly polluted environments had reduced melanin pigmentation on the face but increased melanin pigmentation on the 2nd tergite of the abdomen. In addition, with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), we found metal particles from the midgut of wasps originating from the polluted environment. Most of the particles were encapsulated with melanin pigment. This finding confirmed that in wasps, ingested metal particles are accumulated in guts and covered by melanin layers. Our data suggest that wasps can tolerate metal contamination but respond phenotypically with modification of their size, coloration, and probably with the directions of the melanin investments (immunity or coloration). Thus, in industrially polluted areas, wasps might probably survive by engaging phenotypic plasticity with no significant or visible impact on the population.

The species Vespula flaviceps (Smith) belonging to subfamily Vespinae is a new record for the state Arunachal Pradesh. A total of 26 genera and 62 species of vespid wasps have been reported from the state. A distributional checklist along with brief diagnosis of V. flaviceps is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species cause severe ecological and economic impacts in their introduced ranges. Vespula wasps, native to Eurasia, are a major threat to New Zealand native ecosystems. Understanding factors that influence the success of wasp invasion is pivotal for the development of control strategies. Here, we compare genetic diversity and structure of Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris between regions of their native and introduced ranges using microsatellite markers. Our study found lower diversity and lack of genetic structure for both invasive Vespula species within New Zealand. The significant reduction in allelic richness, gene diversity and effective population size illustrate a major bottleneck in New Zealand V. germanica and V. vulgaris populations. Strong signatures of population structure were found for both Vespula species with two clusters being identified as optimal k, approximately corresponding to the native and the invaded ranges. Our results highlight the fact that the lack of genetic diversity does not impede successful invasions in V. germanica and V. vulgaris and encourage further research into mechanisms that promote the success of invasive social insects. Overall, this study provides insights into the genetics of invasive Vespula wasps that can be useful for the development of efficient management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of social wasps have established in the Faroe Islands in 1999 -- common wasp Vespula vulgaris and German wasp Vespula germanica. The population growth, and dispersal in the Faroes has been followed in detail through correspondence and contact with local residents and authorities throughout the Faroes. Collected wasps have been identified, and nest eradication data from the local municipalities is also presented. In total there have been 1.222 nests located and destroyed, mostly in Tórshavn, where they were first introduced, but nests have also been found on neighbouring islands. Both the introduction and the spread within the Faroes suggest a strong relationship with human settlements and travel. Social wasps have established on four out of 18 islands -- all of which are connected by land, suggesting that their spread within the islands is also human aided. With no active biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of invasive alien species to the Faroes, we predict that the introduction of more species of social wasps to be very likely, and wasps already present will likely invade new islands. Although social wasps represent a public nuisance in the Faroes, the potential ecosystem impacts are grossly underappreciated and understudied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social wasps are often considered as nuisance pests in urban environments and are often controlled by using traps. The majority of commercially produced traps for catching wasps have yellow as the dominant colour around the trap entrance. However, the observations on the function of yellow as an attractant for wasps are controversial. The efficiency of yellow, compared with green striped (N = 15) and yellow and green striped beer traps (N = 15) was evaluated. According to the results, yellow does not have a specific role as an attractant for wasps of the genera Vespula Linnaeus and Dolichovespula (Rohwer). For wasps, it may be the bait that is the major lure and it might be sufficient on its own for both control and monitoring purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the interchangeability of venom preparations and potential standardization and allergenic potency differences during a venom shortage in 2016/2017. Topics covered include the 25-50% dose reductions to minimize side effects in venom immunotherapy (VIT), the toleration of change of suppliers during VIT buildup, and the safety of venom switching to a higher grade of purification. Also noted is the extra precaution needed when more allergenic venom preparations are used.

Quantifying the benefits of pollinator abundance and diversity for plant reproduction is a critical challenge, especially given recent pollinator declines. Many studies test for pollen limitation (PL), but huge gaps remain in our understanding of how often and why plants experience PL. Most studies are limited to a few sites or years. Little existing research mechanistically links pollinator visitation with plant reproduction. Also, buffering against variability in visitation is a key but largely untested potential benefit of pollinator diversity. Long‐term studies pairing visitation data with PL experiments are essential to addressing these gaps, but extremely rare.I measured pollinator visitation, responses to pollen supplementation, and fruit weights in the generalist plant Scrophularia californica across multiple sites for 8 years. I determined how often S. californica experienced significant PL and tested mechanistic models predicting PL and fruit (capsule) weight from visitation. I then used those models to simulate pollinator loss and evaluate the relative effects of changes in visit quantity and quality. I explored the stabilizing benefits of visitor diversity by quantifying both covariation among pollinators and effects of simulated species loss on variation in PL and capsule weights.Scrophularia showed significant PL in only 26.9% of patch/year combinations tested. Visitation by the most abundant (Apis mellifera) and effective (Vespulapensylvanica) pollinators strongly predicted PL and capsule weights. Both response curves were highly nonlinear, but PL saturated more with increased visitation. Pollinator loss simulations predicted substantially increased PL and reduced capsule weights, mostly because of lower visit numbers rather than changes in visit quality. Visitation rates of individual pollinators varied substantially and without correlation. Simulated pollinator loss increased the spatial and temporal skew in visitation, resulting in higher predicted coefficients of variation for PL and capsule weights.Synthesis. Previous work predicts a nonlinear relationship between pollinator visitation and plant reproduction, but this is the first long‐term study I am aware of that quantifies such a pattern. The analysis of covariance in pollinator visitation combined with my simulation results provide novel empirical support for another important hypothesis, that multiple pollinators can provide stabilizing benefits for plant reproduction. Previous work predicts a nonlinear relationship between pollinator visitation and plant reproduction, but this is the first long‐term study I am aware of that quantifies such a pattern. The analysis of covariance in pollinator visitation combined with my simulation results provide novel empirical support for another important hypothesis, that multiple pollinators can provide stabilizing benefits for plant reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three species of Vespula have become invasive in Australia, Hawai'i, New Zealand, and North and South America and continue to spread. These social wasp species can achieve high nest densities, and their behavioral plasticity has led to substantial impacts on recipient communities. Ecologically, they affect all trophic levels, restructuring communities and altering resource flows. Economically, their main negative effect is associated with pollination and the apicultural industry. Climate change is likely to exacerbate their impacts in many regions. Introduced Vespula spp. likely experience some degree of enemy release from predators or parasites, although they are exposed to a wide range of microbial pathogens in both their native and introduced range. Toxic baits have been significantly improved over the last decade, enabling effective landscape-level control. Although investigated extensively, no effective biological control agents have yet been found. Emerging technologies such as gene drives are under consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social wasps are a major pest in many countries around the world. Pathogens may influence wasp populations and could provide an option for population management via biological control. We investigated the pathology of nests of apparently healthy common wasps, Vespula vulgaris, with nests apparently suffering disease. First, next-generation sequencing and metatranscriptomic analysis were used to examine pathogen presence. The transcriptome of healthy and diseased V. vulgaris showed 27 known microbial phylotypes. Four of these were observed in diseased larvae alone (Aspergillus fumigatus, Moellerella wisconsensis, Moku virus, and the microsporidian Vavraia culicis). Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV) was found to be present in both healthy and diseased larvae. Moellerella wisconsensis is a human pathogen that was potentially misidentified in our wasps by the MEGAN analysis: it is more likely to be the related bacteria Hafnia alvei that is known to infect social insects. The closest identification to the putative pathogen identified as Vavraia culicis was likely to be another microsporidian Nosema vulgaris. PCR and subsequent Sanger sequencing using published or our own designed primers, confirmed the identity of Moellerella sp. (which may be Hafnia alvei), Aspergillus sp., KBV, Moku virus and Nosema. Secondly, we used an infection study by homogenising diseased wasp larvae and feeding them to entire nests of larvae in the laboratory. Three nests transinfected with diseased larvae all died within 19 days. No pathogen that we monitored, however, had a significantly higher prevalence in diseased than in healthy larvae. RT-qPCR analysis indicated that pathogen infections were significantly correlated, such as between KBV and Aspergillus sp. Social wasps clearly suffer from an array of pathogens, which may lead to the collapse of nests and larval death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-reactions between Polistes dominula and Vespula species are common in southern Europe. Currently, only CAP-inhibition demonstrates high accuracy in identifying genuine sensitizations, but this method is time-consuming and expensive, so a new approach is required. This study investigates skin tests, molecular diagnostics, total IgE (tIgE), and the Ves v 5/Pol d 5 (or vice versa) ratio. The ratio generated low-accuracy results and poor agreement with CAP-inhibition, and we did not find any agreement between CAP-inhibition test and double values of Ves v 5/Pol d 5. Nevertheless, a slight diagnostic improvement was obtained when Ves v 5/tIgE and Pol d 5/tIgE were measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, we showed that the symbiotic yeast Lachancea thermotolerans (Filippov) (Saccharomycetales: Saccharomycetaceae) is attractive to its Vespula (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) yellowjacket hosts when grown on media supplemented with grape juice. We hypothesized that "Concerto", a commercial strain of this yeast, could be combined with fruit powder to form a shelf-stable bait for trapping yellowjackets. Using molecular techniques, we first confirmed that Concerto yeast is indeed the species L. thermotolerans. We then tested whether: 1) Concerto yeast produces volatiles similar to those produced by L. thermotolerans isolated from yellowjackets, 2) Concerto yeast enhances attraction of yellowjackets to fruit powder, 3) a Concerto yeast/fruit powder bait interacts synergistically with a yellowjacket semiochemical lure, and 4) a synthetic analog blend of Concerto-produced volatiles attracts yellowjackets. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that the chemical composition of Concerto-produced volatiles closely resembles that produced by a yellowjacket-isolated strain of L. thermotolerans. In field experiments, addition of Concerto to fruit powder doubled its attractiveness to yellowjackets. Addition of the Concerto/fruit powder bait to a heptyl butyrate–based wasp lure revealed a weak additive effect. A three-component synthetic analog blend of volatiles identified from the Concerto/fruit powder bait attracted Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure), but no other yellowjacket species. Our results suggest that commercial L. thermotolerans in combination with fruit powder could be used as a yellowjacket bait, and that addition of yeast-produced volatiles to a commercial wasp lure may improve its attractiveness to V. pensylvanica. Further research should determine why the synthetic volatile blend failed to attract Vespula species other than V. pensylvanica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Yellowjackets in the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula are prevalent eusocial insects of great ecological and economic significance, but the chemical signals of their sexual communication systems have defied structural elucidation. Herein, we report the identification of sex attractant pheromone components of virgin bald‐faced hornet queens (Dolichovespula maculata). We analyzed body surface extracts of queens by coupled gas chromatographic–electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD), isolated the compounds that elicited responses from male antennae by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and identified these components by GC mass spectrometry (MS), HPLC‐MS, and NMR spectroscopy. In laboratory olfactometer experiments, synthetic (2Z,7E)‐3,7‐dimethyldeca‐2,7‐diendioic acid (termed here maculatic acid A) and (2Z,7E)‐10‐methoxy‐3,7‐dimethyldeca‐10‐oxo‐deca‐2,7‐dienoic acid (termed here maculatic acid C) in binary combination significantly attracted bald‐faced hornet males. These are the first sex attractant pheromone components identified in yellowjackets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many familiar Hymenoptera are brightly colored and can sting painfully–thus, their threat and clinical importance may be exaggerated. Most stinging insects only sting to defend themselves or their colonies from predators. The clinical nature of Hymenoptera envenomations contrasts that of other venomous animals, including other arthropods, primarily because allergic reaction, not direct intoxication, is the usual main concern. This review focuses mainly on the clinical features of direct toxicity to Hymenoptera envenomations, which can induce a high incidence of acute renal failure, liver failure, multiple organ failures, and death. Toxic mass envenomations by honeybees usually entail many hundreds or more stings per victim. In contrast to honeybee toxic envenomations, hornet sting envenomations can be clinically threatening with only 20–200 stings needed to cause kidney and other organ failures. Many lethal envenomations by honeybees occur in rural areas in the New World and Africa and are not recorded or documented. In contrast, deaths by hornets occur mainly to Asia. The most frequent and important envenomating taxa are honeybees, hornets, yellowjacket wasps, paper wasps, fire ants, and jack jumper ants. Occasional envenomating taxa include bumblebees, bullet ants, harvester ants, solitary wasps, solitary bees, and various ants of lesser clinical importance. Envenomations by Hymenoptera usually can be avoided if one considers that bees, wasps and ants “view” us as potential threats or predators, and that with information about the biology of stinging Hymenoptera, humans can minimize adverse incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of repeated prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, and combinations of fire and mechanical thinning on pollinators and flower visitors within the herbaceous understory and midstory of a temperate forest in North Carolina. Using colored pan traps, we sampled flower visitors during the plant growing season between 2014 and 2016. We captured 5,520 flower visitors that were dominated by halictid bees and vespid wasps. Twenty genera of bees representing at least 30 species were captured within our experimental plots. Within the forest understory, we found higher abundances and diversities of bees and other flower visitors within plots that had been treated with prescribed fire or a combination of mechanical thinning and prescribed fire compared to control plots. Within our midstory samples, we found that forest management practices did not affect the abundance of any common flower visitor species/family. However, Augochlora pura and Vespula spp. were more abundant in the midstory compared to the forest understory. Overall, our study demonstrates that repeated applications of prescribed fire maintained elevated abundances and diversity of bees and other flower-visiting insects compared to untreated plots, likely due to increased herbaceous plant diversity and enhanced quality of nesting habitat within the understory. Our results also indicate that many flower visitors utilize the midstory of a temperate forest potentially for foraging habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Vespula Thomson, 1869, is reviewed from the Indian subcontinent. New synonymy is Vespa orbata var. aurulenta du Buysson, 1905, = Vespula structor (Smith, 1870). The following species are newly recorded from various states of India as follows: V. nursei Archer, 1981, from Delhi, Sikkim and Uttarakhand; V. orbata (du Buysson, 1902) from Nagaland; V. flaviceps (Smith, 1870) from West Bengal; V. germanica (Fabricius, 1793) from Himachal Pradesh; V. structor (Smith, 1870) from Arunachal Pradesh; V. vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) from Himachal Pradesh. Parasitic association of Strepsiptera is observed in one worker specimen of V. flaviceps. A modified key to species of the Indian subcontinent is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]