Invasive wasps threaten South African ecosystems

Invasive Wasp Species

Introduction

• Fear of Wasps: Many people fear wasps due to their painful stings.
• Vespidae Family: Includes over 5,000 species, with about 700 being social wasps.
• Social Wasp Colonies: Nests can contain 25 to 7,000 wasps.

Invasion and Colonization

• Spread Beyond Natural Range: Hibernating queens travel as stowaways.
• Colony Formation: A single queen and a male drone can start a colony, producing over 9,000 offspring in a season.

Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts

• Example – Argentina:
  • Damage: Millions of dollars in damage annually.
  • Agricultural Impact: Complicates agricultural activities and damages fruit.
  • Honey Bees: Declines in honey bee populations and other beneficial insects.

Case Study: South Africa

• Monitoring Efforts: Collaboration with South African National Biodiversity Institute and Stellenbosch University.
• Citizen Science: Public involvement to monitor and control wasp populations.

Invasive Species in South Africa

• German Wasp (Vespula germanica):
  • Behavior: Generalist predator, nests underground or in buildings.
  • Identification: Yellow wasps with black antennae.
  • Spread: First recorded in Cape Town (1972), new sighting in Cederberg (2024).
• European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula):
  • Behavior: Nests above ground.
  • Identification: Orange antennae, flies with legs hanging.
  • Spread: Detected in Kuilsrivier (2008), spread to Porterville and Hermanus.

Potential Threats

• Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina):
  • Spread: From East Asia to France (2004), now widespread in Western Europe.
  • Impact: Specialist predator of honey bees, dangerous to destroy nests.

Public Involvement

• Citizen Science Platforms: Use of iNaturalist to track and identify wasp species.
• Photographing Wasps: Tips for effective photos and data submission.

Key Points for UPSC IAS Exam: 

• Understanding Invasive Species: Mechanisms of spread and impact on local ecosystems and economies.
• Role of Citizen Science: Importance in monitoring and controlling invasive species.
• Case Studies: Specific examples from Argentina and South Africa.
• Preventive Measures: Strategies to prevent the spread and mitigate impacts of invasive species.
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