Research Article

Short- and long-term control of Vespula pensylvanica in Hawaii by fipronil baiting

  1. Cause Hanna1,*,
  2. David Foote2,
  3. Claire Kremen1

Article first published online: 6 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1002/ps.3262

Issue

Pest Management Science

Pest Management Science

Volume 68, Issue 7, pages 1026–1033, July 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hanna, C., Foote, D. and Kremen, C. (2012), Short- and long-term control of Vespula pensylvanica in Hawaii by fipronil baiting. Pest. Manag. Sci., 68: 1026–1033. doi: 10.1002/ps.3262

Author Information

  1. 1

    Environmental Science, Policy and Management (ESPM), University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

  2. 2

    US Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Hawaii National Park, HI, USA

*ESPM, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 JUN 2012
  2. Article first published online: 6 MAR 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 22 DEC 2011 04:06AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 22 DEC 2011
  5. Manuscript Revised: 18 NOV 2011
  6. Manuscript Received: 28 SEP 2011

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Keywords:

  • social wasps;
  • Vespula pensylvanica;
  • invasive species;
  • fipronil;
  • insecticidal bait;
  • Hawaii

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The invasive western yellowjacket wasp, Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure), has significantly impacted the ecological integrity and human welfare of Hawaii. The goals of the present study were (1) to evaluate the immediate and long-term efficacy of a 0.1% fipronil chicken bait on V. pensylvanica populations in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, (2) to quantify gains in efficacy using the attractant heptyl butyrate in the bait stations and (3) to measure the benefits of this approach for minimizing non-target impacts to other arthropods.

RESULTS: The 0.1% fipronil chicken bait reduced the abundance of V. pensylvanica by 95 ± 1.2% during the 3 months following treatment and maintained a population reduction of 60.9 ± 3.1% a year after treatment in the fipronil-treated sites when compared with chicken-only sites. The addition of heptyl butyrate to the bait stations significantly increased V. pensylvanica forager visitation and bait take and significantly reduced the non-target impacts of fipronil baiting.

CONCLUSION: In this study, 0.1% fipronil chicken bait with the addition of heptyl butyrate was found to be an extremely effective large-scale management strategy and provided the first evidence of a wasp suppression program impacting Vepsula populations a year after treatment. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry

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