Hornet nests (Vespa crabro) in the area of Łódź - preliminary analysis of the distribution

Preliminary results of investigation on the distribution of nests of the hornet within the area of Łódź in 1998 and 1999 are given. 25 nests in 1998 and only 8 nests in 1999 was found (8 8% of nests was found in buildings).Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Differentiation of toxicity properties of some social aculeate venoms (Hymenoptera, Aculeata)

Results of the investigations of toxicity properties of some social Aculeata venoms were presented. The action of crude venoms of six aculeate species: Apis mellifera, Bomhus sp., Vespa crabro, Vespula germanica, Vespula vulgaris, Polistes sp. on human erythrocytes, larvas of Calliphora sp. and new-born Mus musculus was investigated in order to determine the hemolytic potency and complete toxicity of different aculeate venoms. Hemolityc potency was defined by quantity of free hemoglobin released under the influence of venom. Investigations were realized for concentrating different of venoms and different time of incubation. The complete toxicity of venoms there was determined by toxical value DL₅₀ (dosis lethaly). Aculeate venoms to appear as a strong toxical substances and their composition and function depend on constitution and function of the aculeate venom apparatus.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Factors restricting the abundance of wasp colonies of the European hornet Vespa crabro and the Saxon wasp Dolichovespula saxonica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in an urban area in Poland

Various factors affecting the reproductive success of Vespacrabro and Dolichovespula saxonica (Vespinae), including their parasitoids, parasites, pathogens and other micro organisms accompanying their nests in the city of Lódz in Poland were investigated. Sphecophaga vesparum, Aphomia sociella and especially Quedius brevicornis, whose larvae cause destruction of wasp nests, were recorded. Totally 19 species or groups of bacteria, including pathogens like Pseudomon aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, and 5 species of fungi were identified. Cities create very good conditions for wasp societies. Unfortunately, their presence can cause specific but important risks to humans, which lead to massive destruction of wasp nests. However, this does not cause considerable decrease in the number of colonies of common wasp species but less abundant species may be endangered in cities by this practice. It is thus recommended to limit the number of all wasp nests destroyed and to discriminate between the species

Effects of Colors and Appearance of the Potential Aggressor on Defensive Behavior of Vespa crabro L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Colonies.

Defensive behavior of the European hornet Vespa crabro colonies were studied using the dummy and balloons in different colors. The strong aggressiveness level of hornet's workers was caused by dark colors (black and brown) and orange. The colors white and green did not cause their attack. However, the strongest reactions of hornets were caused by dummy with the animal snout and dark hair on the head. Thus people who are near wasp colonies should have clothes in white or green and hair obscured but when the whole nest is eliminate, they have to have a safe outfit properly constructed

Phenology of European Hornet, Vespa crabro L. and Saxon Wasps, Dolichovespula saxonica Fabr. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and the Influence of the Weather on the Reproductive Success of Wasps Societies in Urban Conditions

In subsequent years, changes in the period of colonies activity for both species of wasps were observed as well as the longer period of development of wasp societies in the city than in the forest. There was not found a clear influence of weather conditions in winter on date of colonies initiation. However, low temperatures and rainfall in May caused delaying the initiation of nesting. The temperature in winter had a little impact on the number of queens that survived the winter and established their colonies in spring, but the humidity in winter had influence on the count of queens and thereby on the number of future nests especially in the forest area

Structure of Nests and Colony Sizes of the European Hornet (Vespa crabro) and Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica) (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in Urban Conditions

Studies of different groups of insects in urban areas sometimes show large populations, greater than in non-urban areas. The reason for this is a presence in the cities some of dominating species which often occur almost en masse.This group includes, inter alia, hymenopterans and especially social wasps (Vespinae). Colonies and nests of two wasp species, the European hornet (Vespa crabro) and Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica) in areas of the city of Łódź in Poland were studied. Whole colonies positioned both in buildings as well in natural places, size of societies, parameters their nests, differentiation of cells in combs and their location were investigated. We also studied the correlation between the size of the nest and societies of these insects. It was found that nests established in the buildings are much larger, produced more individuals of reproductive castes and thus obtained a better reproductivesuccess especially for the hornet colonies whose queens prefer the buildings as a place to nest

Muzeum Przyrodnicze Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego - historia kolekcji

The Natural History Museum, Department of Experimental Zoology and Evolutionary Bio- logy, University of Łódź, is a continuator of the Municipal Natural History Museum in Łódź which was created in 1930. The present Museum collection contains over 100 000 specimens, encompassing many taxonomic groups of animals from all over the world. Insects are the most numerous, in particular butterflies, estimated at around 45 000, hymenoptera, around 25 000 and coleoptera, around 14 000. Among particularly valued and generally known exhibits there is a complete skeleton of the cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), found in the Tatras and reconstructed by Edward Potęga, the aurochs’ skull (Bos primigenius), a spider crab preparation (Macrocheira kaempferi), as well as collections of Polish birds representing an almost complete array of species from Central Poland, Polish butterflies collected by Zygmunt Śliwiński and a collection of skeletons prepared by Izydor Siemieniuk. Many exhibits , both vertebrates and invertebrates, are of historical value and come from the early 20th-century collections

Hornet (Vespa crabro) in Łódź, preliminary estimate of epidemiology

In the present paper some information on the potencial of the epidemiology hazard produced by community of hornet Vespa crabro is given. In nests of hornet recorded in Łódź, 24 species of pathogenic and conditional pathogenic bacteria were found. 75% of nests investigated in Łódź were found in apartament buildings.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

The present state of knowledge of the insect fauna o f the Bolimów Landscape Park, with particular reference to the river Rawka’s valley

During the study, 653 species of insects have been found in the Bolimów Landscape Park, including 62 rare and interesting species. Among them the beetle Aderus peniaiomus is a new species for the Polish fauna. Many species occurring here are new for the Mazovia region.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę