LABORATORY REARING OF WESTERN YELLOWJACKETS (HYMENOPTERA, VESPIDAE) THROUGH A FOUNDRESS-TO-GYNE COLONY CYCLE

Queens of the western yellowjacket, Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure), c ollected founded nests under laboratory conditions. Of 24 queens colle cted, 11 initiated nests. Seven nests were transferred into observatio n hives, 5 produced workers which foraged outdoors, 4 developed multip le combs, and 2 seared reproductives. Flight activity and nest volume of the multiple-comb colonies were monitored weekly. Bionomic data on the multiple comb nests were taken at either colony death or the end o f the season. This project is a step toward the controlled rearing of colonies for behavioral observation, venom collection or biological co ntrol of agricultural pest insects.