NORSK ENTOMOLOGISK TIDSSKRIFT - Norsk entomologisk forening

A nest of Vespula saxonica (Fabv.) (Hym., Vespidae) 39
The size of the population may be obtained from the following
data :
1 Approximate number
Full-grown
Emerged
Upper comb
Fig.l.,zoneA
(( B
Q C
(( D
(( E
Interm. comb
Fig. 2.. zone F
(4 G
Lower comb
Fig. 3., zone H
I
15
40
GO
150
175
-- 440
25
-
300
325
40 +
150+
1 9 0 +
210
-
300 300 +
-
510 300t
300t
--
300t
790+t
--
1275
+ : many cells contained two or more eggs.
-. .
. . - - dead eggs, moulded larvae.
----
??+$$@ +S6??+86@
+Sd
15
30
80
GO
60
150
- 100
-
10
-
5
60 175 10 325
10
- 10
- - -
175 20 325
The nest looked healthy and no young were observed parasitized.
The total of full-grown larvae, pupae and emerged adults
is approx. 305 queens and males from large cells, and approx.
500 workers and maies from small cells respectively. About a
third of the examined pupae from large cells represented queens.
Relatively few males were recorded of the individuals examined
which had reached the pupal stage in the capped small cells.
Presuming the full-grown larvae and pupae had fulfilled development
and new queens had emerged from about a third of the
large cells, it may be predicted that the colony would produce
about 100 queens, some more than 200 males and proportionately
less than 500 workers.
Besides the old queen, three newly-emerged queens, likewise,
four males and 222 workers followed the nest. The workers represented
68 old worn specimens, 144 specimens at a vigorous
stage, and 10 newly-emerged individuals. The missing emerged
queens and males had matured and left the nest. The missing
workers were either individuals in activity outside the nest when
it was removed or they belonged to the earliest brood in the
colony and their life had ended.
60
--
200
- 200
25
-
25
285