Hi,
I've had several bee keepers approach me this week for advice as they've had wasps attacking their hives and the use of traps doesn't seem to be working. I hope you don't mind but I thought it might be helpful to share some of that advice.
Basically wasps will come to bee hives for three reasons: to pulp wood for nest building, to hunting for protein to feed their brood and finally to scavenge honey.
The first and third reasons are relatively easily dealt with and are for another time. The second reason, i.e. hunting for protein is more of an issue.
Hunting wasps will ignore sweet foods including sweet baited traps. They are driven to hunt for protein to feed their brood. As wasp nests mature the number of grubs in the nest increases almost exponentially especially with the production of the sexual progeny and the brood need animal (insect) protein to develop. Normally this wouldn't be an issue in normal years where wasp numbers are low and there's an abundance of other insects. However, in heavy wasp years, there's terrific competition between wasp nests and insect prey becomes relatively scarce. When this happens wasps are forced to find high density sources of protein which essentially means bee hives or other wasp colonies. In a 'normal' year wasps would not entertain attacking bee hives for protein as this is high risk for them. They might visit hives to pick off old and dying honey bees which is fine because it helps keep the hives free from potentially diseased honey bees. The problem comes if they intensify their hunting and attack the hive proper for protein.
In situations like this a couple of hours could see a hive wiped out with wasps taking not only adult worker bees but also the brood - it's heart breaking and devastating to see. So it's important to monitor wasp hunting behaviour. For as long as the wasps are taking odd solitary honey bees outside of the hive then that shouldn't be anything to worry about. If they start attacking the hive proper then quick remedial action will need to be taken and there are strategies that can be used. If this happens to you pm me and I will provide advice. Otherwise in the mean time ensure that you have entrances that are easily defendable - i.e. under-floor entrances or tunnel entrances that afford multiple ranks of defending honey bees and do not under any circumstances squash wasps on the hive as this will only serve to intensify the attack through the production of powerful alarm pheromones. It's also worth removing any wasps that have died or are dying in the vicinity of the hive to reduce attraction from this source.
I've had several bee keepers approach me this week for advice as they've had wasps attacking their hives and the use of traps doesn't seem to be working. I hope you don't mind but I thought it might be helpful to share some of that advice.
Basically wasps will come to bee hives for three reasons: to pulp wood for nest building, to hunting for protein to feed their brood and finally to scavenge honey.
The first and third reasons are relatively easily dealt with and are for another time. The second reason, i.e. hunting for protein is more of an issue.
Hunting wasps will ignore sweet foods including sweet baited traps. They are driven to hunt for protein to feed their brood. As wasp nests mature the number of grubs in the nest increases almost exponentially especially with the production of the sexual progeny and the brood need animal (insect) protein to develop. Normally this wouldn't be an issue in normal years where wasp numbers are low and there's an abundance of other insects. However, in heavy wasp years, there's terrific competition between wasp nests and insect prey becomes relatively scarce. When this happens wasps are forced to find high density sources of protein which essentially means bee hives or other wasp colonies. In a 'normal' year wasps would not entertain attacking bee hives for protein as this is high risk for them. They might visit hives to pick off old and dying honey bees which is fine because it helps keep the hives free from potentially diseased honey bees. The problem comes if they intensify their hunting and attack the hive proper for protein.
In situations like this a couple of hours could see a hive wiped out with wasps taking not only adult worker bees but also the brood - it's heart breaking and devastating to see. So it's important to monitor wasp hunting behaviour. For as long as the wasps are taking odd solitary honey bees outside of the hive then that shouldn't be anything to worry about. If they start attacking the hive proper then quick remedial action will need to be taken and there are strategies that can be used. If this happens to you pm me and I will provide advice. Otherwise in the mean time ensure that you have entrances that are easily defendable - i.e. under-floor entrances or tunnel entrances that afford multiple ranks of defending honey bees and do not under any circumstances squash wasps on the hive as this will only serve to intensify the attack through the production of powerful alarm pheromones. It's also worth removing any wasps that have died or are dying in the vicinity of the hive to reduce attraction from this source.
