Experimental high-density trapping of social wasps: target kairomones for workers or gynes for drones?
Social wasps are amongst the most loathed exotic predators in New Zealand, with widespread adverse impacts on native ecosystems and fauna. Sustainable alternatives to pesticides are sorely needed in Fuscospora (beech) forests. We tested a new semiochemical evaluation protocol to assess the extent of high-density trap competition as an indicator of mass trapping, in an open landscape adjacent to a beech forest near Cass (Canterbury, New Zealand), for potential worker or drone removal.