Yellowjackets, Vespula spp.
Yellowjackets and certain other wasps may break
open the skins
of grape berries in order to reach the sweet contents. In the early
part of the
growing season these wasps are mainly predatory. Toward the end of the
season
the wasps' foraging behavior changes and the sugar content of the fruit
increases.
Although honey bees are sometimes seen on broken fruit consuming the
juice, they
are not responsible for the initial injury because their mandibles are
not strong
enough to puncture the fruit skin. Control measures can be directed
against
the overwintering yellowjacket queens by establishing bait stations
containing
an attractant and a pesticide in early spring. Destruction of nearby
nests is
helpful but difficult, because they are often located underground.
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