Interaction between Vespula germanica and Apis mellifera in Patagonia Argentina apiaries

Abstract

Social wasps are important predators of honeybees, attacking hives to steal honey, pollen, larvae, and adults. Wasps of the genus Vespula are considered agricultural pests in many invaded areas, but their impact on Apis mellifera in these areas is poorly understood. Here, we studied agonistic interactions between V. germanica wasps and honeybees in Patagonia, Argentina. We found that the attack intensity was positively correlated with wasp density and that the colonies with lower honeybee traffic were the most affected by the wasps. We conclude that V. germanica has a significant impact on honeybees in this invaded area in Patagonia suggesting beekeepers need to be alert during the summer months to reduce wasp density of this insect pest.