THE EUROPEAN WASP, VESPULA-GERMANICA (FABRICIUS) (HYMENOPTERA, VESPIDAE), IN SOUTHERN AFRICA AND ITS POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION AS PREDICTED BYECOCLIMATIC MATCHING

Twenty years after the first record of the European wasp, Vespula germ anica (Fabricius), in southern Africa, it is still confined to the Cap e Peninsula, an area of approximately 470 km(2) Its spread in southern Africa has been remarkably slow compared with other region Southern H emisphere due to several ecological factors. Bioclimatic modelling was used to determine the potential range of V. gel,manica in southern Af rica. Results show that the southwestern Cape is sub-optimal for V. ge rmanica, and that the surrounding Karoo is unfavourable. The most like ly direction of natural expansion from the Cape Peninsula would be alo ng the narrow coastal strip of the southern Cape. The eastern coast an d sour grassveld in the interior are the most favourable regions for V . germanica. Efforts should be made to exterminate the wasp before it moves beyond the Cape Peninsula.