. Cooperative economic insect report. Beneficial insects; Insect pests. - 777 - INSECTS NOT KNOWN TO OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES Oriental Hornet (Vespa orlentalis L.) Economic Importance: The oriental hornet, an omnivorous feeder and a serious pest, attacks ripening fruits of all kinds, especially grapes, dates and peaches. Up to 50 percent damage to ripe fruit has been reported from Afghanistan. At times, dates may be saved only by covering them with paper bags. Adults gnaw the bark of young trees mainly for the construction of nests. A massive outbreak of hornets occurred in Israel in 1934, w
. Cooperative economic insect report. Beneficial insects; Insect pests. - 777 - INSECTS NOT KNOWN TO OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES Oriental Hornet (Vespa orlentalis L.) Economic Importance: The oriental hornet, an omnivorous feeder and a serious pest, attacks ripening fruits of all kinds, especially grapes, dates and peaches. Up to 50 percent damage to ripe fruit has been reported from Afghanistan. At times, dates may be saved only by covering them with paper bags. Adults gnaw the bark of young trees mainly for the construction of nests. A massive outbreak of hornets occurred in Israel in 1934, when considerable damage of this type was reported on citrus, grape, stone and pome fruits. The hornets kill honey bees and have wiped out entire apiaries in Israel. In Egypt the number of Vespa orientalis visiting an apiary observed from 1949-1955 averaged 18,947 per year. They also feed on honey in the hives. In both Egypt and Israel, they are re- garded as major pests of apiaries. The oriental hornet has a vicious sting and is especially troublesome to workers in vineyards. Distribution: Afghanistan, Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, southern Europe, and Turkey. Hosts: Various fruits including grapes, dates, peaches and Life History and Habits: The nests, generally built in the soil in Israel, consist of 2-6 layers of combs and lack the paper cover, which generally surrounds the combs of wasps. Occasionally, nests are found in corners of windows and in mud walls. In Egypt, mud walls seem to be preferred and if part of the nest is exposed, it is protected with a gray paper-like covering. Colonies die out in November before their earth-nests are destroyed by the winter rains. The males and workers die; only the queens hibernate. Young queens hibernate soon after mating. Observations in Egypt indicate that the queen may appear as early as February and will feed on flowers. About the end of April, as soon as weather is favorable, she
Size: 2088px × 1197px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubjectbeneficialinsects, booksubjectinsect
