Management of social wasp colonies in Eucalyptus plantations (Hymenoptera:Vespidae)

Abstract

Polistes paper wasps have shown potential for the biological control of agricultural plagues. Twenty post-emergent colonies of P. versicolor were transferred from human constructions to artificial shelters installed on a eucalyptus plantation. We obtained 85% success in colony transference, as determined by the permanence of individuals in the colony after the colony transference. Transferred colonies stayed active at the plantation for 64.05 ± 38.43 (8-123) days. We demonstrated that post-emergent colonies of P. versicolor can be easily transferred to areas where they can act as biological control agents.