An orphaned colony of the European wasp Vespula germanica (F.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia resulting from repeated usurpation

Abstract

As a result of repeated usurpation attempts by several queens on a young Vespula germanica (F.) colony in New South Wales, Australia, the founding queen and three usurper queens were killed. The absence of a functional queen had resulted in ovarian development among the uninseminated workers with subsequent laying of haploid (unfertilised), male-producing eggs. Such orphaned colonies are generally doomed to early failure unless adopted by a queen capable of laying diploid (fertilised), female-producing eggs.

Keywords:

• Hymenoptera
• Vespidae
• Vespula germanica
• usurpation