Environmental Entomology (1995) 24, 298-305

Mireille Fouillaud and Gilles Morel (1995)
Fungi associated with nests of the paper wasp Polistes hebraeus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) on La Reunion Island
Environmental Entomology 24 (2), 298-305
Abstract: Paper wasp, Polistes hebraeus (F.), nests appear to serve as reservoirs of fungi. Eighty-nine fungal isolates were obtained from larvae and meconia of this wasp collected on La Réunion Island. Thirty-one fungal genera were recovered and at least 52 species identified. These numerous molds and yeasts survive or grow as saprophytes in excreta; among them two genera were predominant, Aspergillus and Penicillium. This rnycoflora which is spread in the environment when the nest breaks up contains potentially entomopathogenic and phytopathogenic fungi, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus tamarii, Paecilomyces farinosus, Alternaria alternata, remaining viable after passing through wasp intestines.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Polistes olivaceus (predator)			Reunion Island