title: Causes of mortality ofPolistes nimphacolonies.
abstract: We studied populations of the eusocial paper waspsPolistes nimphafrom 2012 to 2014, near Poznań, Poland, to identify the causes of mortality and to analyze changes in the number of active nests during the breeding season (from May to September). Results of the 3-year study showed that the major cause ofP. nimphamortality (51.9 %) in the study areas was the activity of mammals, probably foxes and wild boars. The second major cause of wasp death was ant predation (12 %). Only 11 of the 308 nests (3.6 %) demonstrated a natural colony decline, following the emergence of reproductives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Umultowska Str. 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Kozyra
authors.affiliation: Department of Systematic Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Umultowska Str. 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baraniak
keywords: Colonies mortality; Poland; Polistes nimpha