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Re: Wasp statistics and Re: generalizations
Jack Dingler <jdingler@onramp.net> wrote:
> Anyone have any good data on the number of paper wasps needed to keep an
> area essentially caterpillar free? I have three large nests with two
> species near my yard. With a total of approximately 50 wasps. Since
> the nests became well established, I have not seen but a few
> caterpillars and the damage to my lettuce and cabbage has been
> negligible. I am also interested in information on how I might increase
> their numbers earlier in the season so that my spring losses are
> smaller.
Increasing the numbers: "Organic Gardening" a while back suggested
putting out wasp houses. Like a bird house without a bottom, set on a
post in a quiet sunny spot, painted black for heat retention. I've never
heard of this, so I don't know how well it works or the recommended
height. Paper wasps seem like good neighbors to me. The nests I see are
usually under the eves on the south side of a building, out of the sun.
I have for some time wondered if encouraging predators for insect
control isn't a bit of a myth. As in: bats and martins etc eat xxx
mosquitos every day. Isn't there a nearly infinite supply of backyard
insect life, and wouldn't the predator population suffer if they
actually did reduce the number of prey?
Boom and bust predator-prey cycles do occur with larger animals, but how
likely is such a relationship when insects are the prey? I know of one
supporting case: the population of a bird (Yellow-Billed Cuckoo?) is
said to be correlated with outbreaks of tent caterpillars. Although I'm
not sure even then if the birds exhaust the number of caterpillars.
-Bill
References: