Author
 |
Aldrich, Jeffrey |
|
Submitted to: Journal of Chemical Ecology
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/27/2001 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Although yellowjackets are highly beneficial insects because they prey on a variety of pest insects, when disturbed by man or animals they can inflict painful, life-threatening stings. Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate nuisance species of yellowjackets from areas of human activity. A very effective chemical attractant (heptyl butyrate) is available for Vespula pensylvanica which is the main nuisance species in the western U.S. Neither heptyl butyrate nor related compounds are effective attractants for eastern U.S. species of yellowjacket wasps. Acetic acid with isobutanol (or similar alcohols) more effectively attracts yellowjackets and paper wasps common in the eastern U.S. (Landolt, 2000, U.S. Patent Serial No. 6,083,498), but this blend also attracts substantial numbers of wasps that are beneficial and not usually harmful to man or animals. Simple blends of volatile chemicals will be reported which act synergistically with the aforementioned patented wasp attractant to greatly increase attraction of queens and workers of V. vulgaris spp. group yellowjackets (V. maculifrons, V. germanica, V. vulgaris and V. flavopilosa) in the eastern U.S. An attract and kill trapping system using the combined lures will be described for suppression of nuisance yellowjackets. |
