Query : hornets attracted to light but not wasps

[Kurt Jacobs]

I do not receive many hornets at UV or MV lights, but I believe it is
because of the location that I collect.  I do not use a trap, but check the
area every 1/2 hour or so.  The area is moderately suburban, so hornets are
generally eradicated immediately when nests are found.

I have always noticed a few paper wasps, many long tail wasps (parasitic,
some large, unidentified), an occasional but rare honey bee (must have been
out late), and of course many species of flies.  Once I collected a giant
water bug (3 inches) that I still think escaped from a Chinese restaurant,
as I have never encountered another of that species.  Stick insects are also
attracted in fall.

I have noticed that amphibians are attracted to the UV lights including
salamanders, frogs, etc, but that when a MV light is used in conjunction,
amphibians are not attracted to the area.

Kurt Jacobs.


Prichard,AW,NAR7 PRICHAA2 M wrote in message
<199812220909.EAA25640 at gr.its.yale.edu>...
>Hi
>
>My experience from moth trapping is that many more hornets turn up at the
UV
>lights than ordinary wasps. This year has been noticeably bad (good?) for
>hornets in that sometimes we have had over 50 hornets in each of several
>traps at sites. Whereas wasps although they have been very common during
the
>day only seem to turn up at light very occasionally in ones or twos.
>
>I presume that hornets are still active and flying around at night whereas
>wasps aren't as a rule. Does anyone have any idea why there is a difference
>in the behaviour between the two? What are they getting up to at this time
>of the day - looking for food?
>
>Regards
>
>Tony Prichard
>Suffolk, UK
>