Flagging positive images for sting wasps: the use of vespine wasps in Guiyang City, China and its conservation implications

Abstract

Vespine wasps, along with other insects, are undergoing decreases at alarming rates. However, wasps are universally disliked by the public and therefore receive little conservation attention. This antipathy may be caused by the vespine sting, which can cause great pain and severe allergic reactions in humans, but it is most likely a result of a lack of public awareness of the various ecosystem services provided by wasps. In this study, we conducted an ethno-zoological survey on the use of vespine wasps, underlining their economic value by conducting face-to-face interviews with local gatherers and sellers in a market in Guiyang city, China. Five species were observed in trade. The larvae and pupae are considered highly nutritional foods with prices ranging from 160 to 300 yuan per kilogram, whereas adults and empty combs are used to produce medicinal wines to cure rheumatism and arthritis. Using the weight of nests encountered in the market, we found that the sale of one nest from each of the five recorded species can produce an economic income up to the average disposable income per year for a rural inhabitant living in this city. Our study can be regarded as a small but important step to promote a positive image of wasps to the public. To reconcile the conflict between vespine stings and conservation, we recommend removing but not destroying nests that threaten people for domestication and sustainable use by experienced gatherers. Furthermore, local knowledge can be incorporated into the management of this threat to public safety.