Control of the Yellowjacket, Vespula pennsylvanica , in Public Parks

Abstract

Vespine wasps and honey bees are a severe nuisance in many camp and picnic grounds over most of the world. Experiments on the control of the yellowjacket, Vespula pennsylvanica (Sauss.), and the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., were made during 1960 in Griffith Park at Los Angeles, California. The treatment of trash containers in picnic areas with an aqueous spray containing 0.75% DDVP once a week reduced populations to about 1.0% of that found in untreated plots during the summer of 1960. Dibrom® (1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl dimethyl phosphate) was also tested but yielded less satisfactory results. A high degree of fly control was also obtained. Details of a successful spray and sanitation program are given.