Possible pathogens of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and their potential as biological control agents

No practical methods are currently available for area‐wide, long‐term control of social wasps in New Zealand. Pathogens have received little attention as potential control agents. Records from wasps of the genera Vespula, Vespa, and Dolicho‐vespula and their associated nest material include 50 fungal, 12 bacterial, 5–7 nematode, 4 protozoan, and 2 viral species, although few have been confirmed through bioassay as pathogens of these wasp species. Despite few naturally‐occurring host‐specific pathogens and records of diseased colonies, wasps are susceptible to generalist insect diseases in bioassays. Fungi belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Paecilomyces, Metarhizium, and Beauveria have been confirmed through bioassay as Vespiniae pathogens, as have the bacteria Serratia marcescens and Bacillus thuringiensis, and nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema (= Neoaplectana) sp., S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae and Pheromermis vesparum. Several of the pathogens listed here provide a resource fr...