Summary
Honeydew is a sugary secretion of beech scale insects (Ultracoelostoma spp.). Two introduced species of wasps forage on the sugar droplets in New Zealand beech forests. We hypothesize that competition between them may explain whyVespula germanica has become locally extinct in beech (Nothofagus) forest invaded byV. vulgaris. Changes in behaviour of the two wasp species in response to changes in the honeydew resource were monitored. Foraging and rainfall separately and together reduced the honeydew standing crop. In response to the standing crop decreasing, more wasps were found on honeydew trees, they became less active, spent more time lapping the tree surface, and ingested drops of honeydew at a slower rate.V. vulgaris was more active, and obtained drops and energy at a higher rate thanV. germanica. These behavioural differences may lead to competitive advantages affecting queen size and possibly survival.
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Harris, R.J., Moller, H. & Winterbourn, M.J. Competition for honeydew between two social wasps in South Island beech forests, New Zealand. Ins. Soc 41, 379–394 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240641
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240641