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Tracking an invasion -- a single Asian hornet sparked the ongoing spread across Europe

Date:
December 7, 2022
Source:
Pensoft Publishers
Summary:
Now found throughout much of continental Europe, the Asian Hornet was first recorded in Ireland in 2021. Using mitochondrial DNA markers, a new study concluded that the Irish specimen represented a progression of the ongoing European invasion, rather than a new arrival from within the insect's native range. Furthermore, it is likely that all Asian hornets in Europe are descended from a single queen introduced to France in 2004, according to the study.
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In Europe, the Asian (or "Yellow-legged") Hornet (Vespa velutina) is a predator of insects such as honeybees, hoverflies, and other wasps, and poses serious risks to apiculture, biodiversity and pollination services. This hornet can measure up to 4cm in length and, like all other social wasps, is capable of delivering a painful sting, although it is not aggressive by nature. Thought to have been introduced into Europe from China in 2004, the Asian Hornet has rapidly spread across the continent. While it has been thus far controlled in Britain, the hornet is well established across mainland Europe and the Channel Islands. In April 2021, the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service confirmed that a single specimen had been found, 'alive but dying' in a private dwelling in Dublin, marking the first Irish record of this species.

The circumstances of how the specimen arrived in the Irish capital are not known, but with the area's extensive regional, national and international connectivity, there can be many possible pathways of introduction. In an Irish context, it was of particular interest to determine whether this individual originated in Europe/Britain or represented a potential new invasion source from within its native range in Southeast Asia.

The specimen was deposited in the National Museum of Ireland and identified by Dr. Aidan O'Hanlon, who suggested performing genetic analysis to determine its provenance. In collaboration with scientists from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University College Cork, and partners on the EU Atlantic Positive Project (which aims to establish Europe-wide methodologies for the control of the Asian hornet), genetic analysis was performed and data were compared with those from specimens provided from several other locations across Europe. The researchers then published their findings in Journal of Hymenoptera Research.

"Earlier work had demonstrated that Asian hornets in Europe apparently shared the same genetic lineage, based on studies of a single gene. We took this a step further and looked at two additional genes which would be more sensitive in detecting variation within the invasive population," explains Dr. Eileen Dillane of BEES.

Data from all three genetic markers confirmed that not only are Asian hornets in Europe of a single pedigree, but are likely descended from a single mated queen hornet that somehow arrived in France in 2004. Furthermore, this lineage has not yet been described within the native range.

"Our research has revealed the remarkable potential for population expansion of eusocial insects in invaded areas, even when original genetic diversity is extremely low," says Dr. Simon Harrison, who is part of the research team.

These findings are both bad news and good news for the control of the Asian hornet in Europe. Whilst single mated queens can evidently rapidly re-colonise areas from where hornets have been eradicated (for example, where intensive efforts have destroyed all nests in an area), the close relatedness of all individuals of the Asian hornet in Europe offers hope for eradication methods based on biological control.

In the Irish context, it is unlikely that this is the beginning of a larger-scale invasion, as the climate and habitat landscape of Ireland is likely less than ideal for the Asian hornet, which requires higher summer temperatures and a greater supply of energy-rich food. "Nonetheless, climate change is likely to increase the threat of a successful invasion in the future, so vigilance against this species must be maintained," the authors of the study advise.


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Materials provided by Pensoft Publishers. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Eileen Dillane, Rachel Hayden, Aidan O'Hanlon, Fidelma Butler, Simon Harrison. The first recorded occurrence of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina) in Ireland, genetic evidence for a continued single invasion across Europe. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2022; 93: 131 DOI: 10.3897/jhr.93.91209

Cite This Page:

Pensoft Publishers. "Tracking an invasion -- a single Asian hornet sparked the ongoing spread across Europe." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 December 2022. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221206105849.htm>.
Pensoft Publishers. (2022, December 7). Tracking an invasion -- a single Asian hornet sparked the ongoing spread across Europe. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 4, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221206105849.htm
Pensoft Publishers. "Tracking an invasion -- a single Asian hornet sparked the ongoing spread across Europe." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/12/221206105849.htm (accessed December 4, 2024).

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