The Asian Hornet specimen recuperated in Dublin. Credit: Dr. Aidan OHanlon
The continuous Asian hornet intrusion: Traced back to a single source in Europe
In Europe, the Asian (or “Yellow-legged”) Hornet (Vespa velutina) is a predator of bugs such as honeybees, hoverflies, and other wasps, and postures major threats to pollination, apiculture, and biodiversity services. This hornet can measure up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) in length. Although it is not aggressive by nature, like all other social wasps it can delivering an unpleasant sting.
Idea to have actually been introduced into Europe from China in 2004, the Asian Hornet has rapidly spread across the continent. While it has actually been so far managed in Britain, the hornet is well established throughout mainland Europe and the Channel Islands. In April 2021, the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service validated that a single specimen had been found, alive but dying in a private dwelling in Dublin, marking the very first Irish record of this species.
The scenarios of how the specimen showed up in the Irish capital are not known, however with the areas extensive local, international and national connection, there can be lots of possible pathways of intro. In an Irish context, it was of specific interest to figure out whether this specific come from Europe/Britain or represented a prospective brand-new intrusion source from within its native range in Southeast Asia.
In Europe, the Asian (or “Yellow-legged”) Hornet (Vespa velutina) is a predator of pests such as honeybees, hoverflies, and other wasps, and postures serious risks to apiculture, pollination, and biodiversity services. Thought to have actually been presented into Europe from China in 2004, the Asian Hornet has quickly spread out across the continent. While it has actually been hence far controlled in Britain, the hornet is well established across mainland Europe and the Channel Islands. In partnership with researchers from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University College Cork, and partners on the EU Atlantic Positive Project (which aims to develop Europe-wide methods for the control of the Asian hornet), genetic analysis was carried out and information were compared with those from specimens supplied from several other areas throughout Europe.
The specimen was transferred in the National Museum of Ireland and determined by Dr. Aidan OHanlon, who recommended performing genetic analysis to identify its provenance. In collaboration with researchers from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University College Cork, and partners on the EU Atlantic Positive Project (which intends to establish Europe-wide methods for the control of the Asian hornet), hereditary analysis was carried out and information were compared to those from specimens provided from a number of other areas across Europe. The researchers then released their findings in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research.
” Earlier work had actually demonstrated that Asian hornets in Europe obviously shared the very same genetic lineage, based upon studies of a single gene. We took this an action even more and took a look at two additional genes which would be more sensitive in detecting variation within the intrusive population,” explains Dr. Eileen Dillane of BEES.
Data from all three genetic markers confirmed that not just are Asian hornets in Europe of a single pedigree, but are most likely descended from a single mated queen hornet that in some way showed up in France in 2004. Furthermore, this family tree has not yet been explained within the native variety.
” Our research study has actually revealed the amazing capacity for population expansion of eusocial insects in attacked locations, even when initial genetic diversity is incredibly low,” says Dr. Simon Harrison, who is part of the research study group.
These findings are both bad news and excellent news for the control of the Asian hornet in Europe. Whilst single-mated queens can evidently rapidly re-colonize areas from where hornets have actually been eradicated (for instance, where intensive efforts have actually destroyed all nests in a location), the close relatedness of all individuals of the Asian hornet in Europe uses hope for eradication techniques based upon biological control.
In the Irish context, it is unlikely that this is the start of a larger-scale invasion, as the environment and environment landscape of Ireland is likely less than ideal for the Asian hornet, which requires greater summer season temperatures and a higher supply of energy-rich food. “Nonetheless, environment change is likely to increase the threat of a successful invasion in the future, so caution against this species must be kept,” the authors of the research study recommend.
Recommendation: “The first recorded occurrence of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in Ireland, genetic evidence for a continued single intrusion throughout Europe” by Eileen Dillane, Rachel Hayden, Aidan OHanlon, Fidelma Butler, Simon Harrison, 31 October 2022, Journal of Hymenoptera Research.DOI: 10.3897/ jhr.93.91209.
