Dick Bonney wrote:
>Have any of you observed a shortage of hymenoptera this year? Here in
>western Massachusetts I have seen almost no halictids, and fewer than
>usual bumblebees, polistes, and mud daubers, and no yellowjackets except
>for a couple of queens in the early season.
 
Dick,
  A non-scientific observation, to say the least, but in my back yard
(Essex County - NE corner of Massachusetts), I didn't notice many
yellowjackets early (but then again, I was out less than usual), but
I've noticed more than usual recently - particularly when I put out a
bottom board that had a bunch of honey on it - I left it quite a ways from
my apiary, the honey bees found it & started cleaning (as I wanted them
to), but I also noticed that there were an equal number of yellowjackets
working it. Needless to say, the honey was gone very quickly!
 
Rick Hough, Hamilton, MA, USA
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