An orphaned colony of the European waspVespula germanica(F.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia resulting from repeated usurpation

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As a result of repeated usurpation attempts by several queens on a young Vespula germanica (F.) colony in New South Wales, Australia, the founding queen and three usurper queens were killed. The absence of a functional queen had resulted in ovarian development among the uninseminated workers with subsequent laying of haploid (unfertilised), male-producing eggs. Such orphaned colonies are generally doomed to early failure unless adopted by a queen capable of laying diploid (fertilised), female-producing eggs.