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Abstract
The prey of the German wasp (Vespula germanica) were investigated by examining the loads carried by foragers caught in entrance traps as they returned to nests. A total of 3709 wasps were caught and 760 loads were examined from traps at four nests. Representatives of nine different orders made up 79% of those loads, showing that V. germanica is a generalist predator in NW Patagonia. Spiders (Araneae), wasps and bees (Hymenoptera), caterpillars (Lepidoptera), beetles (Coleoptera) and flies (Diptera) were the most common prey items in the diet. The prey of V. germanica in our study were broadly similar to those described for New Zealand and Chile. Arthropod prey consumption increased through the season whereas wood pulp consumption decreased. This fact reflects seasonal colony behaviour.
