UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are important pollinators that support biodiversity, crop productivity and apicultural livelihoods; however, their colonies are exposed to several biotic stresses, including predation by social wasps. The present study evaluated the seasonal incidence of two predatory wasp species, Vespa auraria and Vespa basalis, and the field efficacy of baited bottle traps in Apis mellifera colonies maintained under stationary conditions at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, and migratory conditions at Anupgarh, Rajasthan, from September 2025 to May 2026. Wasp activity was recorded weekly at two observation periods (9–10 a.m. and 1–2 p.m.), and five bait treatments were compared: fish and meat, fermented sugar solution, fermented fruit juice, fermented honey solution and water as a control. The results showed a clear seasonal pattern. Vespa auraria was more abundant than Vespa basalis and recorded its maximum pooled activity in October (15.90 ± 0.50 wasps/hour/week), whereas Vespa basalis recorded its highest pooled activity in September (3.90 ± 0.30 wasps/hour/week). Both species generally showed greater activity during the afternoon observation period. Wasp activity declined markedly during November and December, and no wasps were trapped from January to May 2026. Among the bait treatments, fermented fruit juice was the most effective attractant under both stationary and migratory conditions, followed by fermented honey solution. The control treatment recorded no captures, confirming that trap catches were bait-mediated. Colony records showed seasonal changes in colony strength, brood area, pollen area and honey stores across the two beekeeping systems. The findings indicate that predatory wasp pressure is concentrated mainly during September and October and that fermented bait traps, particularly fruit-based attractants, can provide a practical and eco-friendly option for reducing wasp predation around apiaries.