Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2021; 9(1): 1550-1553

E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Seasonal abundance of oriental in Apis www.entomoljournal.com JEZS 2021; 9(1): 1550-1553 mellifera L. colonies © 2021 JEZS Received: 07-11-2020 Accepted: 09-12-2020 Shiwani Bhatnagar, Neha Sharma, Raj Kumar Suman and Mamta Shiwani Bhatnagar Sankhla Forest Protection Division, Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Abstract An attempt was made to study seasonal abundance of predatory Vespa orientalis attacking Apis Neha Sharma mellifera colonies during blooming period of Prosopis cineraria and Capparis decidua in Jodhpur Forest Protection Division, (Rajasthan). The data on the abundance of hornet wasp was collected from February to July. No V. Arid Forest Research Institute, orientalis wasp was recorded attacking the colonies in winters and spring. V. orientalis activity started in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India May and increased during June to July. Hornet were found attacking honeybee colonies frequently with the onset of monsoon season with high population in late July. Raj Kumar Suman

Forest Protection Division, Arid Forest Research Institute, Keywords: Vespa orientalis, Apis mellifera, seasonal abundance Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India Introduction Mamta Sankhla The Oriental hornet, Vespa orientalis, is a social and belongs to family . These Forest Protection Division, social live in large colonies having a caste system dominated by a queen and constitute Arid Forest Research Institute, [16] Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India three polymorphic members namely workers, males and one queen . The adult of V.orientalis feeds on and fruits and scavenges for insects and proteins to feed its young ones [5]. For the reason that are scavengers, they may also act as a transmitter of disease owing to intake of infected plants [1, 14]. V. orientalis generally makes underground [18] but some paper nests are also built inside

hollow trees, containers, parked vehicles, etc. They communicate using sound vibrations and [9] their enfolds multiple combs in which the colony reside . It captures insects like , bees, flies and yellow jackets wasp to feed the colony's brood. The hornets are considered as primary pest to honey bees that attack bee colonies to get honey and animal proteins [10, 1]. Reported that Oriental hornet stings causes allergic to some humans [15].

Contemplated V. orientalis as a major pest of honeybees, dangerous for Egyptian beekeeping [4] . Reported that it is one of the most distributed pests causing considerable damage to colonies round the world. Present study was conducted to record the seasonal abundance of Vespa oreintalis attacking Apis mellifera colonies during blooming period of Prosopis cineraria and Capparis decidua in

Jodhpur (Rajasthan).

Materials and Methods The study on seasonal abundance of predatory wasp V. orientalis attacking the Apis mellifera colonies was undertaken during blooming period of Prosopis cineraria and Capparis decidua.

The study was done in the ecology field, AFRI, Jodhpur. The data was collected starting from February to July 2020 for season’s winter, spring, summer and monsoon. To measure the seasonal abundance of V. oreintalis, the test hives were inspected every week for foraging hornets. Each hive box was checked and number of hornet wasp seen was recorded. Observations on the defensive response of honeybees to the attack of hornet wasp were also

recorded during the foraging hours of bees.

Results and Discussion Corresponding Author: In the Ecology field, Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur a experiment in Shiwani Bhatnagar Capparis decidua and Prosopis cineraria was laid where V. orientalis, were found hovering Forest Protection Division, over the openings of honeybee hives. It is reddish-brown color wasp with distinctive thick Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India yellow bands on the abdomen and yellow patches on the head between the eyes. ~ 1550 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies http://www.entomoljournal.com

It was found predating on honey, adult honeybees and its To defend their colony against an attack of V. orientalis, Apis brood. The population density of the oriental hornet, V. mellifera often makes clumps in the front of the hive entrance orientalis was recorded from February to July months but if many hornet hover over the hive concurrently, the covering season’s winter, spring, summer and monsoon. It honey bees clump starts dividing by detaching themselves was observed that population density of the oriental hornet from the clump core. Absconding of honey bee colonies is very low during spring and early summer, but then it one of the domino effect of hornet attack. We found one hives gradually increased till the end of July (Table 1 & Fig 1). The that was occupied by bee colonies earlier got bereaved within results showed there was no activity of this species in few days thus leaving the hive totally devoid of adult bees. February, March and April. V. orientalis activity started in When we opened these hives we observed only worker May with average population of 16 hornets/month. The hornets and black ants taking the food from the absconded population of this wasp species increased during June with hive [17]. Stated that at Islamabad the European honey bee, average population of 25.75 hornets/ month which increased Apis mellifera, colonies having normal or even clipped queens to 45 hornets/ month (average population) in late July. Thus abscond their hives when these colonies are heavily attacked during the study period from February to July, hornet wasp by Vespa spp. including V. orientalis [6]. Also reported that Vespa orientalis was found predating on hive bee in highest the hornet feeds on the honey and carry the bee larvae and number in the month of July, reaching to the highest values adult cadaver back to their own colony to nurture their during the fourth week of July (45 hornets/ week). growing brood [13]. Confirmed a drop in flight activity of [11] reported that during pre-monsoon season, it proliferates honey bees due to the attack of V. orientalis in Jordan and the young ones make new nests; the scarcity of food for [3, 8]. Has also reported about severe reduction in adult wasps during the rainy season compel to them attack bee population of honeybees due to attack of hornet wasps [5]. hives to ensnare their prey. Reported the best place for hornets to find a combination of It was observed that the colony was found growing animal proteins and are bee hives. They predate throughout the winters, spring and summer months until late on honeybees [10, 21], enter the hive and rob the brood and summer and early monsoon when the hornets were seen honey, causing serious damage and destruction of the bee commonly attacking bee colonies causing reduction in adult colony [7, 22]. population. They hang over the entrance gates of honeybee Several authors have reported that wasps predate on hives and predated on honey and its brood to nourish honeybees thereby damaging bee colonies and leading to loss themselves and their younger ones. These hornets find a of entire apiaries [12, 23, 2, 20, 5]. Thus affecting honey harvesting combination of proteins from bees & larvae and and crop yield due to effect on pollination of flowers. carbohydrates in form of nectar and honey from theses hives.

Fig 1: Vespa orientalis

Fig 2: Vespa orientalis on the hive frames in search of brood Fig 3: Vespa orientalis feeding on honey after bees has abandoned their hives due to hornet’s attack. ~ 1551 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies http://www.entomoljournal.com

Table 1: Population of Vespa orientalis attacking honeybee colonies Apis mellifera L. based on average per month

Vespa orientalis Months Weeks Range Per hive Total Numbers of hornet wasp Average hornet population per month First week 0 0 Second week 0 0 February 0 Third week 0 0 Fourth week 0 0 First week 0 0 Second week 0 0 March 0 Third week 0 0 Fourth week 0 0 First week 0 0 Second week 0 0 April 0 Third week 0 0 Fourth week 0 0 First week 0-3 14 Second week 1-3 15 May 16 Third week 0-3 17 Fourth week 0-3 18 First week 0-3 28 Second week 1-4 26 June 25.75 Third week 1-3 20 Fourth week 2-7 29 First week 2-9 37 Second week 2-10 42 July 45 Third week 2-11 45 Fourth week 4-12 56

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