TESTING THE EFFICACY OF SOME METHODS RECOMMENDED ABROAD FOR CONTROLLING THE ORIENTAL HORNET, VESPA ORIENTALIS L., ATTACKING HONEY BEE, APIS MELLIFERA L., COLONIES IN IRAQ

Abstract

Some methods recommended abroad to control the oriental hornet, Vespa orientalis L., attacking the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies were tested, with some modifications, for the first time under the Iraqi conditions. One of these methods was carried out by covering the hive entrance with a piece of queen excluder to prevent the hornet from entering the hive. Also, the position of hive stand was reversed to deprive the hornet from using the flight board as a stage for waiting and creeping toward the defending bees. The second method was carried out by fixing a cardboard cone as a bee passage at the hive entrance to hinder the entry of the hornet into the hive. Both of these methods were found to be unsuccessful to control the hornet. Also, the use of vinegar traps had an adverse effect, for only worker honey bees and dipterous insects, rather than the hornets, were trapped in large numbers.