Seasonal activity of predatory wasps (Vespa velutina) attacking Apis mellifera L. Colonies in Zabarwan Himalayas of Kashmir Mushtaq Humira1,*, Parray Manzoor Ahmad1, Bano Parveena1, Mir Shakeel Ahmad2, Neelofar3, Rather G. H.4, un Nisa Bismat1, Arifie Uzma1, Gulzar Arifa5, Nowdeep1 1Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190 025, Jammu and Kashmir (India) 2Division of Agri-Statistics, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190 025, Jammu and Kashmir (India) 3Division of FLA, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190 025, Jammu and Kashmir (India) 4Division of Fruit Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190 025, Jammu and Kashmir (India) 5Division of plant Pathology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar-190 025, Jammu and Kashmir (India) *e-mail: ratherhumira15@gmaill.com
Online Published on 28 December, 2023. Abstract Studies were conducted on the number of wasps attacking honeybees (Apis mellifera) colonies in three different times of the day for six continuous minutes every day on ten honeybee colonies. The study period was divided into 35 Standard Meteorological Weeks (SMW) among which the wasp incidence varied significantly, as recorded and low in early spring with a gradual increase in the late summer and the highest peak was observed in the autumn. The results showed that the maximum weekly population of predatory wasps at morning, mid-day and evening was (8.667), (27.394) and (13.052) respectively, during 38th SMW. Weekly mean population of wasps exhibited positive correlation with the maximum temperature and negative correlation with the minimum relative humidity. Monitoring the seasonal activity and spatial population variations, along with weather parameters indicate the estimate of peak period of their activity by which sustainable management strategies/plans of these predatory wasps will be developed. Top Keywords Apis mellifera, Attacking, Loss, Predatory wasp, Seasonal activity, Vespa velutina. Top |