well being an entomolagist and having over 25 years in the field I feel qualified to comment on population peaks and cycles amongst wasps. In my part of the world (B.C.) it is readily accepted that most nuisance wasps go through a 7 year cycle. Having said that climatic conditions certainly can affect the cycle. This year was the 6th year in the cycle but due to ideal conditions here in the okanagan it was the worst (best if ya like em) year i have ever experienced. Next year being the peak year has the POTENTIAL given the right conditions to be an even heavier year for populations of wasps to thrive. I suspect the four year figure was tossed out by some poor exterminator during a tv interview and this mis- information has been repeated enough times it is now "media" fact.
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09-16-2004, 12:09 AM
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