Studies of the Foraging and Feeding Behavior of Yellowjacket Foundresses, Vespula (Paravespula) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), in the Laboratory

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Abstract
The foraging and feeding behavior of laboratory yellowjacket foundresses of Vespula maculifrons, V. vulgaris, and V. germanica was observed. Overall activity was greater for queens of V. vulgaris than for V. maculifrons, suggesting an effect on eventual mature colony size. Rates of foraging were influenced by time of day and stage of development of the queen nest. Overall activity and fluid collection increased late in the day for queens of V. maculifrons, whereas carbohydrate foraging increased during this same period for V. vulgaris. Pulp collection was concentrated in the early period of nest establishment for both species. Water foraging was rare before nest establishment and was associated with pulp collection in V. maculifrons. Honey-foraging rates increased as the queen nests developed and were positively correlated to water-foraging rates for both V. maculifrons and V. vulgaris. Honey foraging occurred at a higher rate than foraging for other resources in all species. The durations of pulp collection bouts were found to be affected by type and moisture content of the pulp source and prior experience of the queen. Durations of flesh collection forays by queens of V. maculifrons and V. vulgaris decreased as nests were established.