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Orr SE, Hedrick NA, Murray KA, Pasupuleti AK, Kovacs JL, Goodisman MAD. Genetic and environmental effects on morphological traits of social phenotypes in wasps. Heredity (Edinb) 2024; 133:126-136. [PMID: 38918612 PMCID: PMC11286790 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00701-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Many species exhibit distinct phenotypic classes, such as sexes in dioecious species or castes in social species. The evolution of these classes is affected by the genetic architecture governing traits shared between phenotypes. However, estimates of the genetic and environmental factors contributing to phenotypic variation in distinct classes have rarely been examined. We studied the genetic architecture underlying morphological traits in phenotypic classes in the social wasp Vespula maculifrons. Our data revealed patriline effects on a few traits, indicating weak genetic influences on caste phenotypic variation. Interestingly, traits exhibited higher heritability in queens than workers. This result suggests that genetic variation has a stronger influence on trait variation in the queen caste than the worker caste, which is unexpected because queens typically experience direct selection. Moreover, estimates of heritability for traits were correlated between the castes, indicating that variability in trait size was governed by similar genetic architecture in the two castes. However, we failed to find evidence for a significant relationship between caste dimorphism and caste correlation, as would be expected if trait evolution was constrained by intralocus genetic conflict. Our analyses also uncovered variation in the allometric relationships for traits. These analyses suggested that worker traits were proportionally smaller than queen traits for most traits examined. Overall, our data provide evidence for a strong environmental and moderate genetic basis of trait variation among castes. Moreover, our results suggest that selection previously operated on caste phenotype in this species, and phenotypic variation is now governed primarily by environmental differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Orr
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Nicole A Hedrick
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Kayla A Murray
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Abhinav K Pasupuleti
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
| | - Jennifer L Kovacs
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia
- Agnes Scott College, Department of Biology, 141 East College Avenue, Decatur, 30030, Georgia
| | - Michael A D Goodisman
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, 30318, Georgia.
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Park WB, Do Y, Choi MB. Ecological integration of Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 in South Korea: a comprehensive study of co-occurrence and interaction patterns with native social wasps. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 39087786 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spread of Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 (Asian hornet) in South Korea poses a threat to biodiversity and agriculture. Traditional species interaction models often fail to capture the complexity of invasive species dynamics. This study used association rule learning (ARL) and clustering analyses to explore the interactions of V. velutina with native Vespidae species in South Korea, with the aim of uncovering patterns of coexistence and competition. RESULTS Over 4 years (2020-2023), 304 traps were strategically placed across South Korea to collect data on Vespidae species. Our findings showed that Vespula flaviceps, Vespa crabro, and Vespula koreensis were the most frequently encountered species. V. velutina was also widespread, suggesting its successful integration into local ecosystems. The ARL analysis, using the 'apriori' algorithm, identified significant co-occurrence patterns and potential interactions. The rules generated indicated both competitive and coexistent relationships with varying levels of association strength across different regions. Clustering analyses, including hierarchical and k-means clustering, grouped species based on their occurrence similarities. The distinct clusters formed in the analysis highlighted the unique ecological roles and interactions of V. velutina and other Vespidae species in South Korean ecosystems. CONCLUSION This study confirms the successful establishment of V. velutina in diverse South Korean ecosystems and highlights its complex interactions with native species. These findings support the need for nuanced management strategies that consider the intricate ecological relationships of V. velutina. This approach is crucial for the effective management of invasive species and ecosystem conservation. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong-Bae Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuno Do
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon Bo Choi
- Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Zhang X, Nie P, Hu X, Feng J. Future Range Expansions of Invasive Wasps Suggest Their Increasing Impacts on Global Apiculture. INSECTS 2024; 15:546. [PMID: 39057278 PMCID: PMC11276961 DOI: 10.3390/insects15070546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Until now, no study has examined the future range dynamics of major invasive wasp species to assess their future impacts on global apiculture. Here, we developed 12 species distribution models to calibrate the future range dynamics of 12 major invasive Vespidae wasp species under a unified framework. An increase in their habitat suitability was identified in more than 75% of global land. Substantial range expansions were detected for all 12 species, and they were primarily induced by future climate changes. Notably, Polistes dominula and Vespa crabro had the largest potential ranges under all scenarios, suggesting their greater impact on global apiculture. Polistes chinensis and Vespa velutina nigrithorax had the highest range expansion ratios, so they warrant more urgent attention than the other species. Polistes versicolor and P. chinensis are expected to exhibit the largest centroid shifts, suggesting that substantial shifts in prioritizing regions against their invasions should be made. Europe and the eastern part of the USA were future invasion hotspots for all major invasive wasp species, suggesting that apiculture might face more pronounced threats in these regions than in others. In conclusion, given their substantial range shifts, invasive wasps will likely have increasingly negative impacts on global apiculture in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyou Zhang
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China; (X.Z.); (P.N.)
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali 671003, China
| | - Peixiao Nie
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China; (X.Z.); (P.N.)
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali 671003, China
| | - Xiaokang Hu
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China; (X.Z.); (P.N.)
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali 671003, China
| | - Jianmeng Feng
- College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China; (X.Z.); (P.N.)
- Cangshan Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Yunnan Province, Dali University, Dali 671003, China
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Buczkowski G. Catch and release: controlling eastern yellowjacket Vespula maculifrons colonies using horizontal insecticide transfer. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38801180 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horizontal insecticide transfer is thought to play an important role in controlling a wide range of urban pests including ants, bed bugs, cockroaches and termites. Trap-treat-release is an effective experimental approach that has been used to successfully manage populations of invasive ants in field applications. Trap-treat-release is based on the principles of horizontal transfer. Individuals are captured, treated with the toxicant and released back into the environment. The treated individuals then return to the colony and transfer the toxicant to other members of the population resulting in secondary mortality. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of the trap-treat-release technique for controlling field populations of the eastern yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons. RESULTS Laboratory experiments demonstrated that fipronil was highly toxic against V. maculifrons across a wide range of concentrations. Furthermore, fipronil was efficiently transferred from treated donors to untreated recipients and caused significant secondary mortality. A field experiment utilized trap-treat-release and demonstrated that fipronil was effectively transferred when foraging worker wasps are trapped, treated, released and allowed to return to their respective colonies. CONCLUSION The trap-treat-release method may be an effective alternative to direct nest treatments and could help alleviate problems such as insecticide runoff, environmental contamination, and non-target effects. This method has the potential to provide effective management of social wasps. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Huang X, Zhou T, Ullah H, Zhu D, Tang Y, Xu H, Wang H, Tan J. Investigating the Influence of Varied Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Wavelengths on Phototactic Behavior and Opsin Genes in Vespinae. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1543. [PMID: 38891590 PMCID: PMC11171232 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The phototactic behavior of insects is commonly used to manage pest populations in practical production. However, this elusive behavior is not yet fully understood. Investigating whether the opsin genes play a crucial role in phototaxis is an intriguing topic. Vespinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are a common group of social wasps that are closely associated with human activities. Efficiently controlling wasp populations while maintaining ecological balance is a pressing global challenge that still has to be resolved. This research aims to explore the phototactic behavior and key opsin genes associated with Vespinae. We found significant differences in the photophilic rates of Vespula germanica and Vespa analis under 14 different light conditions, indicating that their phototactic behavior is rhythmic. The results also showed that the two species exhibited varying photophilic rates under different wavelengths of light, suggesting that light wavelength significantly affects their phototactic behavior. Additionally, the opsin genes of the most aggressive hornet, Vespa basalis, have been sequenced. There are only two opsin genes, one for UV light and the other for blue light, and Vespa basalis lacks long-wavelength visual proteins. However, they exhibit peak phototaxis for long-wavelength light and instead have the lowest phototaxis for UV light. This suggests that the visual protein genes have a complex regulatory mechanism for phototactic behavior in Vespinae. Additionally, visual protein sequences have a high degree of homology among Hymenoptera. Despite the hypotheses put forward by some scholars regarding phototaxis, a clear and complete explanation of insect phototaxis is still lacking to date. Our findings provide a strong theoretical basis for further investigation of visual expression patterns and phototactic mechanisms in Vespinae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiangli Tan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China; (X.H.); (T.Z.); (H.U.); (D.Z.); (Y.T.); (H.X.); (H.W.)
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Cunningham-Eurich I, Kontou D, Yordanova M, Maeda-Obregon A, Favreau E, Wang J, Hart AG, Sumner S. Using citizen science data to assess the population genetic structure of the common yellowjacket wasp, Vespula vulgaris. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 32:634-647. [PMID: 37599385 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring insect genetic diversity and population structure has never been more important to manage the biodiversity crisis. Citizen science has become an increasingly popular tool to gather ecological data affordably across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. To date, most insect-related citizen science initiatives have focused on occurrence and abundance data. Here, we show that poorly preserved insect samples collected by citizen scientists can yield population genetic information, providing new insights into population connectivity, genetic diversity and dispersal behaviour of little-studied insects. We analysed social wasps collected by participants of the Big Wasp Survey, a citizen science project that aims to map the diversity and distributions of vespine wasps in the UK. Although Vespula vulgaris is a notorious invasive species around the world, it remains poorly studied in its native range. We used these data to assess the population genetic structure of the common yellowjacket V. vulgaris at different spatial scales. We found a single, panmictic population across the UK with little evidence of population genetic structuring; the only possible limit to gene flow is the Irish sea, resulting in significant differentiation between the Northern Ireland and mainland UK populations. Our results suggest that queens disperse considerable distances from their natal nests to found new nests, resulting in high rates of gene flow and thus little differentiation across the landscape. Citizen science data has made it feasible to perform this study, and we hope that it will encourage future projects to adopt similar practices in insect population monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iona Cunningham-Eurich
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Danai Kontou
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Monika Yordanova
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Emeline Favreau
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jinliang Wang
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Adam G Hart
- Department of Natural and Social Science, University of Gloucestershire, UK
| | - Seirian Sumner
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK
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Lin D, Hong J, Sanogo B, Du S, Xiang S, Hui JHL, Ding T, Wu Z, Sun X. Core gut microbes Cloacibacterium and Aeromonas associated with different gastropod species could be persistently transmitted across multiple generations. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:267. [PMID: 38017581 PMCID: PMC10685545 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01700-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on the gut microbiota of animals have largely focused on vertebrates. The transmission modes of commensal intestinal bacteria in mammals have been well studied. However, in gastropods, the relationship between gut microbiota and hosts is still poorly understood. To gain a better understanding of the composition of gut microbes and their transmission routes in gastropods, a large-scale and long-term experiment on the dynamics and transmission modes of gut microbiota was conducted on freshwater snails. RESULTS We analyzed 244 microbial samples from the digestive tracts of freshwater gastropods and identified Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes as dominant gut microbes. Aeromonas, Cloacibacterium, and Cetobacterium were identified as core microbes in the guts, accounting for over 50% of the total sequences. Furthermore, both core bacteria Aeromonas and Cloacibacterium, were shared among 7 gastropod species and played an important role in determining the gut microbial community types of both wild and cultured gastropods. Analysis of the gut microbiota at the population level, including wild gastropods and their offspring, indicated that a proportion of gut microbes could be consistently vertically transmitted inheritance, while the majority of the gut microbes resulted from horizontal transmission. Comparing cultured snails to their wild counterparts, we observed an increasing trend in the proportion of shared microbes and a decreasing trend in the number of unique microbes among wild gastropods and their offspring reared in a cultured environment. Core gut microbes, Aeromonas and Cloacibacterium, remained persistent and dispersed from wild snails to their offspring across multiple generations. Interestingly, under cultured environments, the gut microbiota in wild gastropods could only be maintained for up to 2 generations before converging with that of cultured snails. The difference observed in gut bacterial metabolism functions was associated with this transition. Our study also demonstrated that the gut microbial compositions in gastropods are influenced by developmental stages and revealed the presence of Aeromonas and Cloacibacterium throughout the life cycle in gastropods. Based on the dynamics of core gut microbes, it may be possible to predict the health status of gastropods during their adaptation to new environments. Additionally, gut microbial metabolic functions were found to be associated with the adaptive evolution of gastropods from wild to cultured environments. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide novel insights into the dynamic processes of gut microbiota colonization in gastropod mollusks and unveil the modes of microbial transmission within their guts. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Datao Lin
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jinni Hong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Benjamin Sanogo
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institut National de Recherche en Sante Publique, Bamako, Mali
| | - Shuling Du
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suoyu Xiang
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jerome Ho-Lam Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Ministry of Education), Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-vectors Control and Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Li P, Hong J, Yuan Z, Huang Y, Wu M, Ding T, Wu Z, Sun X, Lin D. Gut microbiota in parasite-transmitting gastropods. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:105. [PMID: 38001502 PMCID: PMC10668521 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01159-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastropoda, the largest class within the phylum Mollusca, houses diverse gut microbiota, and some gastropods serve as intermediate hosts for parasites. Studies have revealed that gut bacteria in gastropods are associated with various biological aspects, such as growth, immunity and host-parasite interactions. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of gastropod gut microbiomes and highlight future research priorities and perspectives. METHODS A literature search was undertaken using PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI for the articles on the gut microbiota of gastropods until December 31, 2022. We retrieved a total of 166 articles and identified 73 eligible articles for inclusion in this review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS Our analysis encompassed freshwater, seawater and land snails, with a specific focus on parasite-transmitting gastropods. We found that most studies on gastropod gut microbiota have primarily utilized 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze microbial composition, rather than employing metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, or metabolomic approaches. This comprehensive review provided an overview of the parasites carried by snail species in the context of gut microbiota studies. We presented the gut microbial trends, a comprehensive summary of the diversity and composition, influencing factors, and potential functions of gastropod gut microbiota. Additionally, we discussed the potential applications, research gaps and future perspectives of gut microbiomes in parasite-transmitting gastropods. Furthermore, several strategies for enhancing our comprehension of gut microbiomes in snails were also discussed. CONCLUSIONS This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on the composition, potential function, influencing factors, potential applications, limitations, and challenges of gut microbiomes in gastropods, with a specific emphasis on parasite-transmitting gastropods. These findings provide important insights for future studies aiming to understand the potential role of gastropod gut microbiota in controlling snail populations and snail-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Li
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinni Hong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhanhong Yuan
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Huang
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingrou Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Datao Lin
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Masciocchi M, Mattiacci A, Villacide JM, Buteler M, Porrino AP, Martínez AS. Sugar responsiveness could determine foraging patterns in yellowjackets. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20448. [PMID: 37993633 PMCID: PMC10665408 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47819-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sympatric-related species often exhibit resource partitioning. This can occur through different mechanisms, such as behavioral, morphological, and sensory variations, leading to qualitative, temporal, or spatial differences in resource exploitation, such as consuming different types of food. Sensory-based niche partitioning could be the underlying mechanism through which closely related species effectively reduce niche overlap. Here we ask whether variations in sensory responses to carbohydrates could reflect differences in the foraging patterns of two Vespula species present in Patagonia. For this, we established (i) the response thresholds toward carbohydrate solutions of foraging V. germanica and V. vulgaris in the laboratory, (ii) the sugar concentration of foraged carbohydrates in the field, and (iii) possible effects of incoming sugar concentration and performance at individual and colony levels. Results indicate a higher sucrose response threshold in V. germanica than V. vulgaris. Field results indicate that higher carbohydrate concentrations foraged by V. germanica, with 57% of V. germanica foragers returning with concentrations above 50% w/w, while only 23% of V. vulgaris foragers did so. These differences in sucrose sensitivity and foraging patterns positively correlate with colony size, irrespective of the species. Our results suggest that competition could be reduced in these closely related invasive social wasp species through sensory differences in their sugar perception levels, which would lead to them foraging different carbohydrate sources. This study suggests that sensory niche partitioning could promote species coexistence in these social wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Analía Mattiacci
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - José M Villacide
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Micaela Buteler
- INIBIOMA - Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (CONICET - UN Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Agustina P Porrino
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Andrés S Martínez
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina.
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Lester PJ, O'Sullivan D, Perry GLW. Gene drives for invasive wasp control: Extinction is unlikely, with suppression dependent on dispersal and growth rates. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2912. [PMID: 37615220 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Gene drives offer a potentially revolutionary method for pest control over large spatial extents. These genetic modifications spread deleterious variants through a population and have been proposed as methods for pest suppression or even eradication. We examined the influence of local dispersal, long-distance and/or human-mediated dispersal, and variation in population growth on the success of a gene drive for the control of invasive social wasps (Vespula vulgaris). Our simulations incorporated a spatially realistic environment containing variable habitat quality in New Zealand. Pest eradication was not observed, except in extreme and unrealistic scenarios of constant, widespread, and spatially intense releases of genetically modified individuals every year for decades. Instead, the regional persistence of genetically modified and wild-type wasps was predicted. Simulations using spatially homogeneous versus realistic landscapes (incorporating uninhabitable areas and dispersal barriers) showed little difference in overall population dynamics. Overall, little impact on wasp abundance was observed in the first 15 years after introduction. After 25 years, populations were suppressed to levels <95% of starting populations. Populations exhibited "chase dynamics" with population cycles in space, with local extinction occurring in some areas while wasps became abundant in others. Increasing the wasps' local dispersal distance increased the spatial and temporal variability of the occupied area and population suppression. Varying levels of human-associated long-distance dispersal had little effect on population dynamics. Increasing intrinsic population growth rates interacted with local dispersal to cause higher mean populations and substantially higher levels of variation in population suppression and the total amount of landscape occupied. Gene drives appear unlikely to cause a rapid and widespread extinction of this and probably other pests but could offer long-term and cost-effective methods of pest suppression. The predicted level of <95% pest suppression would substantially reduce the predation pressure and competitive interactions of this invasive wasp on native species. However, the predicted long-term persistence of genetically modified pests will influence the ethics and likelihood of using gene drives for pest control, especially given concerns that modified wasps would eventually be transported back to their home range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Lester
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - David O'Sullivan
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - George L W Perry
- School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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11
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Melo R, Masciocchi M, Corley JC. Allee effects in an invasive social wasp: an experimental study in colonies of Vespula germanica. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16323. [PMID: 37770473 PMCID: PMC10539287 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43527-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Allee effects rely on the existence of mutually beneficial intraspecific interactions that increase individual fitness and per capita growth rate, as the number of individuals in a population or group increases. When the number of individuals falls below a given number, the success of a group or population drops. Social insects heavily rely on cooperation between individuals for various tasks such as foraging and breeding. In this study, we experimentally explored component Allee effects and the underlying mechanisms in colonies of the social wasp Vespula germanica. After the removal of workers, we counted the number of gynes produced, estimated the body mass index as a proxy of their quality, and registered the protein-food collected by foragers in colonies. Our research revealed a correlation between the decrease in worker population and a subsequent decrease in the production of gynes. However, the removal of workers did not impact the quality of the produced gynes or the quantity of protein-food collected by the colonies. These findings highlight the crucial role of the worker caste in the success of eusocial species and suggested an ability of workers to perform multiple tasks that enable colonies to respond to disturbances. Additionally, our study provides the first evidence of Allee effects at the colony level of V. germanica, with potential practical implications for managing this invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Melo
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Modesta Victoria 4450, 8400, Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
| | - Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Modesta Victoria 4450, 8400, Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina.
| | - Juan C Corley
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Modesta Victoria 4450, 8400, Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
- Departamento de Ecología, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional Del Comahue, Quintral 1250, 8400, Bariloche, Argentina
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12
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Qi YH, Ye ZX, Zhang CX, Chen JP, Li JM. Diversity of RNA viruses in agricultural insects. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4312-4321. [PMID: 37711182 PMCID: PMC10497914 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and bioinformatics tools have revealed a vast array of viral diversity in insects, particularly RNA viruses. However, our current understanding of insect RNA viruses has primarily focused on hematophagous insects due to their medical importance, while research on the viromes of agriculturally relevant insects remains limited. This comprehensive review aims to address the gap by providing an overview of the diversity of RNA viruses in agricultural pests and beneficial insects within the agricultural ecosystem. Based on the NCBI Virus Database, over eight hundred RNA viruses belonging to 39 viral families have been reported in more than three hundred agricultural insect species. These viruses are predominantly found in the insect orders of Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera. These findings have significantly enriched our understanding of RNA viral diversity in agricultural insects. While further virome investigations are necessary to expand our knowledge to more insect species, it is crucial to explore the biological roles of these identified RNA viruses within insects in future studies. This review also highlights the limitations and challenges for the effective virus discovery through NGS and their potential solutions, which might facilitate for the development of innovative bioinformatic tools in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hua Qi
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Zhuang-Xin Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jian-Ping Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jun-Min Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
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13
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Barandika JF, de la Hera O, Fañanás R, Rivas A, Arroyo E, Alonso RM, Alonso ML, Galartza E, Cevidanes A, García-Pérez AL. Efficacy of Protein Baits with Fipronil to Control Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Lepeletier, 1836) in Apiaries. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2075. [PMID: 37443873 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax), outside its natural range, has become a major threat to domestic bees. Several control methods have been used to fight against V. velutina, but the results achieved are not satisfactory. The use of protein baits with biocides has shown to be an effective method to control invasive wasp populations, but they have not been used to control V. velutina. Thus, the efficacy of protein baits containing fipronil to reduce the presence of hornets in apiaries was evaluated in this study. After laboratory determination of the optimal efficacy of a protein bait at a 0.01% concentration of fipronil, field trials were conducted involving 222 beekeepers. The data reported by the 90 beekeepers who completed the requested questionnaire demonstrated that in the groups of apiaries with the highest pressure of hornets (groups with 10-30 and >30 hornets), there was a significant decrease in the presence of V. velutina, lasting at least two weeks. The reduction in the number of hornets was positively correlated with bait consumption, and bait consumption was positively correlated with the number of hornets present at the time of treatment. Although the method used has shown good efficacy and the concentration of fipronil used was very low; possible negative effects on the environment should also be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús F Barandika
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Omaira de la Hera
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Roberto Fañanás
- D+S-OABE, Poligono Industrial Zabale, Parcela III, 48410 Orozko, Spain
| | - Arrate Rivas
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Eugenia Arroyo
- D+S-OABE, Poligono Industrial Zabale, Parcela III, 48410 Orozko, Spain
| | - Rosa M Alonso
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - M Luz Alonso
- Zientzia eta Teknologia Facultatea, Euskal Herriko Universitatea, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | | | - Aitor Cevidanes
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Ana L García-Pérez
- NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
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14
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Power K, Martano M, Ragusa E, Altamura G, Maiolino P. Detection of honey bee viruses in larvae of Vespa orientalis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1207319. [PMID: 37424785 PMCID: PMC10326897 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1207319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is one of the major predators of honey bees. It has been demonstrated that adults of V. orientalis can harbor honey bee viruses, however the transmission route of infection is still not clear. The aim of this study was to study the possible presence of honey bee viruses in V. orientalis larvae and honey bees collected from the same apiary. Therefore, 29 samples of V. orientalis larvae and 2 pools of honey bee (Apis mellifera). samples were analyzed by multiplex PCR to detect the presence of six honeybee viruses: Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV) and Sac Brood Virus (SBV). Biomolecular analysis of V. orientalis larvae revealed that DWV was present in 24/29 samples, SBV in 10/29, BQCV in 7/29 samples and ABPV in 5/29 samples, while no sample was found positive for CBPV or KBV. From biomolecular analysis of honey bee samples DWV was the most detected virus, followed by SBV, BQCV, ABPV. No honey bee sample was found positive for CBPV or KBV. Considering the overlapping of positivities between V.orientalis larvae and honey bee samples, and that V.orientalis larvae are fed insect proteins, preferably honey bees, we can suggest the acquisition of viral particles through the ingestion of infected bees. However, future studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis and rule out any other source of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Power
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Manuela Martano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Ernesto Ragusa
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gennaro Altamura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Maiolino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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15
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Otis GW, Taylor BA, Mattila HR. Invasion potential of hornets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespa spp.). FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 3:1145158. [PMID: 38469472 PMCID: PMC10926419 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1145158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Hornets are large, predatory wasps that have the potential to alter biotic communities and harm honey bee colonies once established in non-native locations. Mated, diapausing females (gynes) can easily be transported to new habitats, where their behavioral flexibility allows them to found colonies using local food and nest materials. Of the 22 species in the genus Vespa, five species are now naturalized far from their endemic populations and another four have been detected either in nature or during inspections at borders of other countries. By far the most likely pathway of long-distance dispersal is the transport of gynes in transoceanic shipments of goods. Thereafter, natural dispersal of gynes in spring and accidental local transport by humans cause shorter-range expansions and contribute to the invasion process. Propagule pressure of hornets is unquantified, although it is likely low but unrelenting. The success of introduced populations is limited by low propagule size and the consequences of genetic founder effects, including the extinction vortex linked to single-locus, complementary sex determination of most hymenopterans. Invasion success is enhanced by climatic similarity between source locality and introduction site, as well as genetic diversity conferred by polyandry in some species. These and other factors that may have influenced the successful establishment of invasive populations of V. velutina, V. tropica, V. bicolor, V. orientalis, and V. crabro are discussed. The highly publicized detections of V. mandarinia in North America and research into its status provide a real-time example of an unfolding hornet invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gard W. Otis
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin A. Taylor
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Heather R. Mattila
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, United States
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16
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Martínez AS, Villacide JM, Buteler M, Serra MN, Masciocchi M. Honeydew production by the giant willow aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus, Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its effect on foraging yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023. [PMID: 36977969 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the factors that promote the success of invasive species is important for managing biological invasions. Interactions between invasives and other species (e.g. competitors, pathogens, or predators), could favor or limit their success. In recent decades, yellowjacket wasps, including Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris, have successfully established in Patagonia. Additionally, the invasive willow Salix fragilis has invaded areas next to watercourses, which in turn are typically colonized by the giant willow aphid (GWA, Tuberolagnus salignus), an additional species characterized as a successful invader in many regions worldwide. Aphid exudate (honeydew) has been reported to be used as a carbohydrate source by social wasps. The aim of our study was to gain a better understanding of the infestation pattern of the GWA in north-western Patagonia, its effect on exudate availability and its relationship with yellowjacket foraging patterns. The study was conducted under the working hypothesis that the increase in the size of GWA colonies and resulting honeydew production, will fuel an increase in local Vespula spp. RESULTS We found that the aphid honeydew is produced in relatively high amounts in the region (estimated at 1517 ± $$ \pm $$ 139 kg/ha/season), with strong indications that it is used by yellowjackets because of the significantly higher abundance levels of yellowjackets foraging on honeydew compared to nearby areas. CONCLUSION Given its effect on yellowjacket foraging behavior, the interaction of these three invasive species, willows, GWA and yellowjackets, needs to receive special attention to develop future environmentally-sound mitigation tools of these nuisance pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés S Martínez
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - José M Villacide
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Micaela Buteler
- INIBIOMA-Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente (CONICET-UN Comahue), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - María Noel Serra
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB-Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche (INTA-CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
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17
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CARPENTER JAMESM, BROWN GRAHAMR. Catalogue of the Australian social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Zootaxa 2022; 5214:451-495. [PMID: 37044894 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5214.4.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A catalogue of the social wasps occurring in Australia is presented. New synonymies include Vespa cohabitatrix Curtiss, 1938 (= Polistes olivaceus (DeGeer, 1773)) and Vespula vulgaris vetus Eck, 1999 (= Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758)).
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18
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Pereira AJ, Masciocchi M, Corley JC. Long-term coexistence of two invasive vespid wasps in NW Patagonia (Argentina). Oecologia 2022; 199:661-669. [PMID: 35781744 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05210-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
In Patagonia (Argentina) two non-native vespid wasps became established in the last decades. Vespula germanica was first detected in 1980, while V. vulgaris arrived some 30 years later. Both species can have a strong negative impact on agro-industrial economic activities, the natural environment, and outdoor human activities. Biological invasions may be influenced negatively by the degree of interaction with the resident native community and alien species already present. The sequential arrival and coexistence of Vespula wasps in Argentina for several years allows us to understand key questions of invasion ecology. Additionally, recognizing the outcome of the invasion by vespids in Patagonia, a region lacking native social wasps, may help plan species-focused mitigation and control strategies. We explored the role of competition in terms of invasion success, and the strategies that promote coexistence. Two possible scenarios, using niche overlap indices and isocline equations, were proposed to determine competition coefficients. Using a simple mathematical modeling framework, based on field collected data, we show that food resources do not play a central role in competitive interaction. The competition coefficients obtained from the equations were different from those inferred from the overlap indices (0.53 and 0.54-0.076 and 0.197, respectively). Together, these findings suggest that no matter the arrival order, V. vulgaris, always reaches higher densities than V. germanica when both species invade new regions. Our work contributes to further our understanding on the worldwide invasion processes deployed by these two eusocial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Julia Pereira
- Centro de Investigaciones en Toxicología Ambiental y Agrobiotecnología del Comahue, CITAAC (CONICET, UNCo), Neuquén, Argentina.
| | - Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Juan C Corley
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Bariloche, Argentina.,Departamento de Ecología, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
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19
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Neupert S, Jandt JM, Szyszka P. Sugar alcohols have the potential as bee-safe baits for the common wasp. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:3005-3011. [PMID: 35420734 PMCID: PMC9324110 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pest insects are often baited with poisoned feeding stimulants, the most common of which are sugars. However, sugars are attractive for most animal species, which makes it difficult to target only a specific pest insect species. Here, we assessed different sugar alcohols for their potential as more species-selective feeding stimulants for pest insects. RESULTS We tested the attractiveness of the sugar alcohols sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol with a capillary feeder assay in wasps (as potential pest insects, because introduced wasps are a pest in many regions) and bees (as non-target insects). For the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), sorbitol and xylitol acted as nutritive feeding stimulants, and erythritol acted as a non-nutritive feeding stimulant. For the buff-tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), sorbitol acted as a feeding stimulant, while for the honey bee (Apis mellifera), none of the sugar alcohols acted as feeding stimulant. CONCLUSION The species-specific preferences for sugar alcohols suggest their potential as species-selective insect baits. The wasp-specific preference for xylitol suggests its potential as a bee-safe alternative to sugar-containing bait for controlling the common wasp. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul Szyszka
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
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20
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Moreyra S, Lozada M. Spatial configuration learning in
Vespula germanica
forager wasps. Ethology 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Moreyra
- Laboratorio Ecotono, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue (CRUB) Bariloche Argentina
| | - Mariana Lozada
- Laboratorio Ecotono, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA), CONICET Universidad Nacional del Comahue (CRUB) Bariloche Argentina
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21
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Power K, Altamura G, Martano M, Maiolino P. Detection of Honeybee Viruses in Vespa orientalis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:896932. [PMID: 35601108 PMCID: PMC9114811 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.896932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is spreading across the Italian territory threatening the health and wellbeing of honeybees by feeding on adult individuals and larvae and by plundering hive resources. Considering the capacity of other hornets in harboring honeybee viruses, the aim of this study was to identify the possible role of the Oriental hornet as a vector for honeybee viruses. Adult hornets were subjected to macroscopical examination to identify the presence of lesions, and to biomolecular investigation to detect the presence of six honeybee viruses: Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Sac Brood Virus (SBV). No macroscopical alterations were found while biomolecular results showed that DWV was the most detected virus (25/30), followed by ABPV (19/30), BQCV (13/30), KBV (1/30) and SBV (1/30). No sample was found positive for CBPV. In 20/30 samples several co-infections were identified. The most frequent (17/30) was the association between DWV and ABPV, often associated to BQCV (9/17). One sample (1/30) showed the presence of four different viruses namely DWV, ABPV, BQCV and KBV. The detected viruses are the most widespread in apiaries across the Italian territory suggesting the possible passage from honeybees to V. orientalis, by predation of infected adult honeybees and larvae, and cannibalization of their carcasses. However, to date, it is still not clear if these viruses are replicative but we can suggest a role as mechanical vector of V. orientalis in spreading these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Power
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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22
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Cacho OJ, Hester SM. Modelling biocontrol of invasive insects: An application to European Wasp (Vespula germanica) in Australia. Ecol Modell 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.109939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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LeBrun EG, Jones M, Plowes RM, Gilbert LE. Pathogen-mediated natural and manipulated population collapse in an invasive social insect. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2114558119. [PMID: 35344435 PMCID: PMC9168452 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114558119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceInvasive social insects are among the most damaging of invasive organisms and have proved universally intractable to biological control. Despite this, populations of some invasive social insects collapse from unknown causes. We report long-term studies demonstrating that infection by a microsporidian pathogen causes populations of a globally significant invasive ant to collapse to local extinction, providing a mechanistic understanding of a pervasive phenomenon in biological invasions: the collapse of established populations from endogenous factors. We apply this knowledge and successfully eliminate two large, introduced populations of these ants. More broadly, microsporidian pathogens should be evaluated for control of other supercolonial invasive social insects. Diagnosing the cause of unanticipated population collapse in invasive organisms can lead to applied solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward G. LeBrun
- Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78703
| | - Melissa Jones
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, TX 78596
| | - Robert M. Plowes
- Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78703
| | - Lawrence E. Gilbert
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78701
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Werenkraut V, Arbetman MP, Fergnani PN. The Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis L.): a Threat to the Americas? NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 51:330-338. [PMID: 34873676 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-021-00929-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Invasive alien species generate adverse ecological, economic and social impacts in the invaded area. This is particularly alarming as the establishment of alien species shows no sign of saturation worldwide. Among invasive alien species, social wasps of the Vespidae family are well known to negatively impact the biodiversity and economy in the invaded areas. In 2020, an established population of the Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis L.) was detected in central Chile. This finding represents the first successful establishment of an insect of the genus Vespa in South America and rises an alarm about its potential spread in the Americas. Here, we performed an ecological niche modelling approach using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and literature occurrences for V. orientalis and a set of environmental variables, to identify the suitable areas for the species outside its native range. The highest suitability values were predicted mostly in warm temperate regions and some arid regions of the world, with humid subtropical, Mediterranean, semi-arid or desert climates. In the Americas, we identified four main regions as moderately or highly suitable for the oriental hornet: the Gulf of Mexico and some areas in western California in the USA, central west Chile and the north-western region of Argentina. When we complemented GBIF occurrences with data from the literature, the potential areas of invasions became broader. Based on our results, we recommend the implementation of early warning monitoring schemes including citizen science initiatives to prevent the invasion of the oriental hornet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Werenkraut
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Hormigas (LIHO), INIBIOMA-CONICET - Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina.
- Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA-CONICET - Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina.
| | - Marina Paula Arbetman
- Ecopol, INIBIOMA-CONICET - Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Paula Nilda Fergnani
- Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA-CONICET - Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
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Mattiacci A, Masciocchi M, Corley JC. Flexible foraging decisions made by workers of the social wasp Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in response to different resources: influence of ontogenetic shifts and colony feedback. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:581-594. [PMID: 34245664 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Decisions made by foraging animals conform a complex process based on the integration of information from multiple external environmental stimuli and internal physiological signals, which in turn are modulated by individual experience and a detection threshold of each individual. For social insects in which foraging is limited to given age subcastes, individual foraging decisions may also be affected by ontogenetic shifts and colony requirements. We studied the short-term changes in foraging preferences of the generalist wasp Vespula germanica, focusing on whether the individual response to different resources could be influenced by the ontogenetic shifts and/or by social interaction with nestmates. We carried both laboratory and field experiments to confront worker wasps to a short-term resource switch between either protein or carbohydrate-based foods. We tested the response of (1) Preforager workers (no foraging experience nor interaction with other wasps), (2) Forager workers (experience in foraging and no colony feedback), and (3) Wild forager workers (foraging naturally and exposed to free interactions with nestmates). We evaluated the maxilla-labium extension response (MaLER) for laboratory assays or the landing response for field assays. We observed that for wasps deprived of colony feedback (either preforagers or foragers), the protein-rich foods acceptance threshold increased (and thus a lower level of foraging on that item was observed) if they had foraged on carbohydrates previously, whereas carbohydrates were accepted in all assays. However, wasps immersed in a natural foraging context did accept protein foods regardless of their first foraging experience and reduced the carbohydrates collected when trained on protein foods. We provide evidence that short-term changes in foraging preferences depend on the type of resource foraged and on the social interactions, but not on ontogenetic shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analía Mattiacci
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Juan C Corley
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB (CONICET, INTA EEA Bariloche), Bariloche, Argentina
- Departamento de Ecología, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional Del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
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Bio-Ethology of Vespa crabro in Sardinia (Italy), an Area of New Introduction. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11040518. [PMID: 35453717 PMCID: PMC9029727 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Alien insects, including hornets, may show invasive traits in non-native areas, thus threatening the ecological balance of natural and agro-ecosystems. The European hornet, Vespa crabro, is an omnivorous eusocial insect predator of many arthropods, including honey bees. It is native to Eurasia and established in Sardinia (Italy) in 2010, where it is an alien species. Vespa crabro does not represent a danger for beekeeping in its native area, although the potential environmental impacts in non-native areas are unknown. In view of the lack of such studies, this research investigated the potential invasive traits of V. crabro in an area of new introduction, with special regard to predatory activity against honey bees. Observations of hornet foraging behaviour in open fields highlighted a prevalent foraging activity on fruits and no preference for bees compared to other recognizable arthropods. Furthermore, behavioural and predatory observations of V. crabro near apiaries showed that foragers returned to nests carrying preys in 1% of cases. Vespa crabro did not show invasive traits nor notable behavioural changes in a non-native compared to its native area, as the hornet was confirmed to be a mild predator of honey bees. Therefore, the European hornet is not likely to represent a threat to beekeeping in Sardinia. Abstract Vespa crabro, also known as European hornet, is a eusocial Vespidae originally from Eurasia that was accidentally introduced on the island of Sardinia (Italy) in 2010. Currently, its distribution is limited to the northern area of the island. Considering that a non-harmful species in its native region can exhibit invasive behaviour when established in new environments, bio-ethological observations were conducted to better understand whether V. crabro could show invasive traits in Sardinia, which represents a new introduction area. Data on the foraging activity of the European hornet in open fields were collected within a citizen science monitoring program carried out in Sardinia from 2018 to 2020. Moreover, specific behavioural observations were made in apiaries to assess the predatory activity of the hornet towards honey bees and at the entrance of free-living European hornet colonies to evaluate other aspects of its behaviour, i.e., intranidal and extranidal tasks. The results of our study are discussed in relation to the behavioural traits known for this species in its native areas to place the behavioural repertoire of V. crabro in Sardinia into a wider context. Our observations revealed that V. crabro did not show any changes in behavioural traits in Sardinia compared to those described in its area of origin, so the risk of becoming an invasive species on this island seems unlikely.
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Ecological features of exotic Vespula wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) invading the southernmost UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02765-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Rankin DT, Loope KJ, Wilson-Rankin EE. Seasonal Phenology and Colony Longevity Patterns in a Predatory Social Wasp. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.3398/064.082.0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David T. Rankin
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Kevin J. Loope
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30461
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Liang CT, Shiels AB, Haines WP, Sandor ME, Aslan CE. Invasive predators affect community-wide pollinator visitation. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2522. [PMID: 34918411 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Disruption of plant-pollinator interactions by invasive predators is poorly understood but may pose a critical threat for native ecosystems. In a multiyear field experiment in Hawai'i, we suppressed abundances of globally invasive predators and then observed insect visitation to flowers of six native plant species. Three plant species are federally endangered (Haplostachys haplostachya, Silene lanceolata, Tetramolopium arenarium) and three are common throughout their range (Bidens menziesii, Dubautia linearis, Sida fallax). Insect visitors were primarily generalist pollinators, including taxa that occur worldwide such as solitary bees (e.g., Lasioglossum impavidum), social bees (e.g., Apis mellifera), and syrphid flies (e.g., Allograpta exotica). We found that suppressing invasive rats (Rattus rattus), mice (Mus musculus), ants (Linepithema humile, Tapinoma melanocephalum), and yellowjacket wasps (Vespula pensylvanica) had positive effects on pollinator visitation to plants in 16 of 19 significant predator-pollinator-plant interactions. We found only positive effects of suppressing rats and ants, and both positive and negative effects of suppressing mice and yellowjacket wasps, on the frequency of interactions between pollinators and plants. Model results predicted that predator eradication could increase the frequency of insect visitation to flowering species, in some cases by more than 90%. Previous results from the system showed that these flowering species produced significantly more seed when flowers were allowed to outcross than when flowers were bagged to exclude pollinators, indicating limited autogamy. Our findings highlight the potential benefits of suppression or eradication of invasive rodents, ants, and yellowjackets to reverse pollination disruption, particularly in locations with high numbers of at-risk plant species or already imperiled pollinator populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina T Liang
- Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Hilo, Hawai'i, USA
- USDA Forest Service Tahoe National Forest Supervisors Office, Nevada City, California, USA
| | - Aaron B Shiels
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA APHIS, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - William P Haines
- Center for Conservation Research and Training, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Manette E Sandor
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Clare E Aslan
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
- Conservation Science Partners, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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Howse MWF, McGruddy RA, Felden A, Baty JW, Haywood J, Lester PJ. The native and exotic prey community of two invasive paper wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand as determined by DNA barcoding. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02739-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSocial wasps are invasive in many regions around the world. In their new communities, introduced predators such as these wasps may be beneficial as consumers of exotic pests, but they will also consume native species. Here, we examined the diet of the exotic European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) and the closely related congener, Polistes chinensis, in a region of New Zealand where they co-occur. DNA barcoding was used to analyse their diet. The diet of both wasp species was largely Lepidopteran but other orders such as Hemiptera, Diptera and Coleoptera were also represented. Our analysis showed substantial site-to-site variation in diet. The two wasps differed significantly in their prey, although these differences appear to be driven by taxa identified from a small number of DNA reads in a small number of samples. Native and introduced fauna were represented in the diets of both wasps and included important agricultural pests. Of the 92 prey taxa able to be identified to species level, 81 were identified as exotic or introduced to New Zealand. The remaining 11 were species native to New Zealand. However, our estimates suggest over 50% of the prey DNA in the wasp diet is derived from native species. These wasps are abundant in some coastal and urban habitats, where they are likely to consume pest species as well as native species of conservation importance. The ecosystem services or costs and benefits provided by these invasive species are likely to be contingent on the prey communities and habitats they occupy.
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Dyson CJ, Crossley HG, Ray CH, Goodisman MAD. Social structure of perennial Vespula squamosa wasp colonies. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8569. [PMID: 35169451 PMCID: PMC8831225 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many social species show variation in their social structure in response to different environmental conditions. For example, colonies of the yellowjacket wasp Vespula squamosa are typically headed by a single reproductive queen and survive for only a single season. However, in warmer climates, V. squamosa colonies sometimes persist for multiple years and can grow to extremely large size. We used genetic markers to understand patterns of reproduction and recruitment within these perennial colonies. We genotyped V. squamosa workers, pre-reproductive queens, and males from perennial colonies in the southeastern United States at 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci and one mitochondrial DNA locus. We found that V. squamosa from perennial nests were produced by multiple reproductives, in contrast to typical annual colonies. Relatedness of nestmates from perennial colonies was significantly lower than relatedness of nestmates from annual colonies. Our analyses of mitochondrial DNA indicated that most V. squamosa perennial colonies represented semiclosed systems whereby all individuals belonged to a single matriline despite the presence of multiple reproductive females. However, new queens recruited into perennial colonies apparently mated with non-nestmate males. Notably, perennial and annual colonies did not show significant genetic differences, supporting the hypothesis that perennial colony formation represents an instance of social plasticity. Overall, our results indicate that perennial V. squamosa colonies show substantial changes to their social biology compared to typical annual colonies and demonstrate variation in social behaviors in highly social species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl J. Dyson
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Henry G. Crossley
- School of Biological SciencesGeorgia Institute of TechnologyAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Charles H. Ray
- Department of Entomology and Plant PathologyAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
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McGruddy R, Howse MWF, Haywood J, Toft RJ, Lester PJ. Nesting Ecology and Colony Survival of Two Invasive Polistes Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:1466-1473. [PMID: 34431996 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We examined the abundance, nesting ecology, and colony survival of two invasive species of paper wasp, Polistes dominula Christ (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and Polistes chinensis Pérez (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), within their invaded range in New Zealand. The more recent invader, P. dominula, exhibited a strong habitat preference, reaching the highest abundances within suburban areas with an average of 87.4 wasps per 1,000 m2. Coastal habitats were also found to be suitable environments for P. dominula, although wasp abundance in these areas was comparatively lower than suburban sites at 26.5 wasps per 1,000 m2. Although P. chinensis were observed to build more nests in coastal habitats, this was not reflected in the abundance of adult wasps in these areas. Nests of P. dominula were larger and more productive, likely a result of the multiple founding and earlier emergence of workers compared to P. chinensis. Both species exhibited significant differences in nest survival, with P. dominula observed to have a higher colony survival rate, particularly in suburban habitats where this species utilized man-made substrates as nesting sites. Neither species nested within forest sites and translocated nests of P. dominula failed to thrive within forest habitats. Findings of this research suggest that P. dominula will not pose a threat to species inhabiting forested areas. Instead, biodiversity managers should focus their efforts on suburban and coastal environments as native species in these areas will require the greatest protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose McGruddy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Matthew W F Howse
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - John Haywood
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Philip J Lester
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Scarparo G, Sankovitz M, Loope KJ, Wilson‐Rankin E, Purcell J. Early queen joining and long-term queen associations in polygyne colonies of an invasive wasp revealed by longitudinal genetic analysis. Evol Appl 2021; 14:2901-2914. [PMID: 34950236 PMCID: PMC8674895 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive social insects rank among the most damaging of terrestrial species. They are responsible for extensive damage and severely threaten the biodiversity of environments where they are introduced. Variation in colony social form commonly occurs in introduced populations of yellowjacket wasps (genus Vespula). In particular, invasive colonies may contain multiple queens (i.e., polygyne) and persist several years, while in the native range, the colonies are usually annual and harbor a single queen (i.e., monogyne). In this study, we used genome-wide loci obtained by double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to investigate the genetic structure and queen turnover in colonies of the western yellowjacket, Vespula pensylvanica, in their introduced range in Hawaii. Of the 27 colonies monitored over four months (October-January), 19 were polygyne and already contained multiple queens on the first day of sampling. Contrary to previous speculation, this finding suggests that polygyny often arises early in the annual colony cycle, before the production of new queens in the fall. Furthermore, polygyne colonies exhibited a prolonged average lifespan relative to those headed by a single queen. As a result, there is no clear window during which colony eradication efforts would be more effective than upon first discovery. The relatedness among nestmate queens was slightly above zero, indicating that these colonies are generally composed of nonrelatives. The queen turnover within each colony was low, and we detected some full-sibling workers sampled up to four months apart. Finally, we did not detect any population structure among colonies, suggesting that queens disperse up to several kilometers. Taken together, our results provide the first insights into the requeening dynamics in this invasive and incipiently polygyne population and illuminate the early establishment of multiple long-lasting queens in these damaging colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Scarparo
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of California RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Madison Sankovitz
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of California RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kevin J. Loope
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of California RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Fish and Wildlife ConservationVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Erin Wilson‐Rankin
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of California RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jessica Purcell
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of California RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
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Verdasca MJ, Rebelo H, Carvalheiro LG, Rebelo R. Invasive hornets on the road: motorway-driven dispersal must be considered in management plans of Vespa velutina. NEOBIOTA 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.69.71352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that potentiate the dispersion of an invasive species is essential to anticipate its arrival into new regions and to develop adequate management actions to minimize damage to biodiversity and society. One of the most successful invaders in Europe, the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), is dispersing through self-diffusion and jump dispersal. Using information on species occurrence in Portugal from 2013 to 2018, this study aimed to understand the range expansion trajectory of V. velutina and to identify the role of climate, landscape and anthropogenic variables on the two mechanisms of spread. We found that in Portugal the invasion is proceeding faster southwards (45 km/year) along the Atlantic coast than eastwards (20 km/year) where the climatic suitability gradient is more compressed, with jump dispersal playing an important role in this difference and in the acceleration of the invasion process. Dispersal by diffusion was best explained by the annual range of temperature and precipitation of the wettest month, with distance to shrub land also having an important role. Additionally, jump dispersal appeared to be facilitated by motorways, hinting at the role of human-mediated dispersal. Indeed, the number of nests that resulted from this dispersive mechanism were significantly closer to motorways than expected by chance. To prevent the dispersal of V. velutina into Mediterranean regions, and in addition to a special attention to the advancing front, early monitoring programs should also target a buffer zone on both sides of motorways, and at freight shipping hubs.
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35
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Activated carbon from wasp hive for aqueous electrolyte supercapacitor application. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Palmer S, Dearden PK, Mercier OR, King-Hunt A, Lester PJ. Gene drive and RNAi technologies: a bio-cultural review of next-generation tools for pest wasp management in New Zealand. J R Soc N Z 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1985531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Symon Palmer
- Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Peter K. Dearden
- Genomics Aotearoa, Bioprotection Research Centre, and Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ocean R. Mercier
- Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alan King-Hunt
- Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Phillip J. Lester
- School of Biology, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Spatio-Environmental Analysis of Vespula germanica Nest Records Explains Slow Invasion in South Africa. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12080732. [PMID: 34442298 PMCID: PMC8396874 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Social wasp invasions can spread quickly and have serious impacts if they reach new regions with favourable climatic conditions. However, in areas less suitable to them, invasion patterns can show factors that may prevent their spread. We use nest records of the German wasp from the southern tip of South Africa, to map and analyse what habitats they seem to prefer. Factors investigated included temperature, rainfall, and moisture availability. We find that this invasive wasp prefers moister and cooler conditions, and because these habitats are patchy in the region they have invaded in South Africa, they can only spread slowly unassisted, and utmost between 50 and 200 km with the assistance of humans. This is the likely reason for the very slow invasion seen in South Africa. The spatial patterns we quantify here make it possible to use a remote-sensing approach to determine the suitability of an area for future invasions. Predicting the likelihood of invasions will greatly aid management actions. Public awareness around the potential accidental transport of the German wasp and similar species should also be undertaken. Abstract Investigating the distributions of invasive species in marginal habitats can give clues to the factors constraining invasive spread. Vespula germanica is the most widely distributed of all the invasive Vespids, which in the Southern Hemisphere typically have large extensive invasive populations. In contrast, the invasion into South Africa has been slow and is still confined to a small geographic area. Here we analyse the distribution of all recent nest records in South Africa (n = 405). The distance to main rivers, mean annual rainfall, summer normalised difference moisture index (NDMI) values, and mean annual temperatures (average, minimum, maximum, and summer maximum temperature) was measured for every nest. We find that value ranges of these variables are different between the value ranges recorded for nests, the general distribution area of the wasp, and the area of absence. Optimised Hot Spot Analysis was used to quantify spatial structure in the measured climatic variables. Generally, factors related to moisture stress set the environmental limits of V. germanica’s landscape distribution. Due to the strong preference of nesting sites close to river courses, for higher rainfall conditions, medium to medium-high NDMI values, and lower mean annual temperatures, it is unlikely that V. germanica will be able to spread uniformly where it is currently found in South Africa.
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Bertelsmeier C. Globalization and the anthropogenic spread of invasive social insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:16-23. [PMID: 33545436 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Social insects are among the worst invasive species and a better understanding of their anthropogenic spread is needed. I highlight recent research demonstrating that social insects have been dispersed since the early beginnings of globalized trade and in particular after the Industrial Revolution, following two waves of globalization. Many species have complex invasion histories, with multiple independent introduction events and frequent secondary spread. The major source and recipient regions differ markedly across ants, wasps, termites and bees, probably linked to their different introduction pathways. At a more local scale, anthropogenic factors such as irrigation, urbanization or the presence of railways facilitate invasions. In the future, social insect invasions could further accelerate due to intensifying global trade and novel introduction pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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39
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Hunt BG, Goodisman MA. Editorial overview: Social insects as invasive species. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:iii-v. [PMID: 34593200 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Brendan G Hunt
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, 30223, United States.
| | - Michael Ad Goodisman
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, United States.
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Wilson Rankin EE. Emerging patterns in social wasp invasions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:72-77. [PMID: 33667693 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Invasive species are a main driver of biodiversity loss and ecological change globally. Consequently, there is a need to understand how invaders damage ecosystems and to develop effective management strategies. Social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) include some of the world's most ecologically damaging invasive insects. In recent decades, the invasive social wasp literature has grown rapidly. This may be due in part to increased rate of introduction as well as greater public awareness of invasive wasps and their potential negative impacts on bees. Here, we investigate trends in invasive social wasp research, identifying the emergence of Vespa invasions, the mechanism-based inquiry into Vespula invasions, and the increased application of molecular methods to track invasive species through the invasion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Wilson Rankin
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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41
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Menzel F, Feldmeyer B. How does climate change affect social insects? CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:10-15. [PMID: 33545433 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Climate change poses a major threat to global biodiversity, already causing sharp declines of populations and species. In some social insect species we already see advanced phenologies, changes in distribution ranges, and changes in abundance Rafferty (2017) and Diamond et al. (2017). Physiologically, social insects are no different from solitary insects, but they possess a number of characteristics that distinguish their response to climate change. Here, we examine these traits, which might enable them to cope better with climate change than solitary insects, but only in the short term. In addition, we discuss how climate change will alter biotic interactions and ecosystem functions, and how it will affect invasive social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Menzel
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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42
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Remnant EJ, Baty JW, Bulgarella M, Dobelmann J, Quinn O, Gruber MAM, Lester PJ. A Diverse Viral Community from Predatory Wasps in Their Native and Invaded Range, with a New Virus Infectious to Honey Bees. Viruses 2021; 13:1431. [PMID: 34452301 PMCID: PMC8402789 DOI: 10.3390/v13081431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Wasps of the genus Vespula are social insects that have become major pests and predators in their introduced range. Viruses present in these wasps have been studied in the context of spillover from honey bees, yet we lack an understanding of the endogenous virome of wasps as potential reservoirs of novel emerging infectious diseases. We describe the characterization of 68 novel and nine previously identified virus sequences found in transcriptomes of Vespula vulgaris in colonies sampled from their native range (Belgium) and an invasive range (New Zealand). Many viruses present in the samples were from the Picorna-like virus family (38%). We identified one Luteo-like virus, Vespula vulgaris Luteo-like virus 1, present in the three life stages examined in all colonies from both locations, suggesting this virus is a highly prevalent and persistent infection in wasp colonies. Additionally, we identified a novel Iflavirus with similarity to a recently identified Moku virus, a known wasp and honey bee pathogen. Experimental infection of honey bees with this novel Vespula vulgaris Moku-like virus resulted in an active infection. The high viral diversity present in these invasive wasps is a likely indication that their polyphagous diet is a rich source of viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Remnant
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Science Road, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - James W. Baty
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; (J.W.B.); (M.B.); (J.D.); (O.Q.); (M.A.M.G.); (P.J.L.)
| | - Mariana Bulgarella
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; (J.W.B.); (M.B.); (J.D.); (O.Q.); (M.A.M.G.); (P.J.L.)
| | - Jana Dobelmann
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; (J.W.B.); (M.B.); (J.D.); (O.Q.); (M.A.M.G.); (P.J.L.)
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Oliver Quinn
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; (J.W.B.); (M.B.); (J.D.); (O.Q.); (M.A.M.G.); (P.J.L.)
- Bacteriology and Aquatic Animal Diseases, Ministry for Primary Industries, P.O. Box 2526, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
| | - Monica A. M. Gruber
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; (J.W.B.); (M.B.); (J.D.); (O.Q.); (M.A.M.G.); (P.J.L.)
| | - Philip J. Lester
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand; (J.W.B.); (M.B.); (J.D.); (O.Q.); (M.A.M.G.); (P.J.L.)
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43
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Moreyra S, Lozada M. Spatial memory in Vespula germanica wasps: A pilot study using a Y-maze assay. Behav Processes 2021; 189:104439. [PMID: 34087348 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In the present study we analysed spatial learning in Vespula germanica wasps when dealing with a walking Y-maze. We recorded the time taken to leave the maze during two consecutive visits and which of the two short arms was chosen to exit. Two treatments were conducted to evaluate whether wasps learned to leave the Y-maze guided either by spatial or visual cues. In Treatment 1, the colour of both arms remained unchanged between two consecutive visits; and in Treatment 2, the position of the coloured arm was switched after the first trial. Our results demonstrated that the time taken to exit the maze on the second trial was less than half in both treatments and wasps left the maze from the previously chosen arm, irrespective of its colour. This is the first study to demonstrate spatial learning in V. germanica wasps by using a walking Y-maze. Free flying wasps learned to enter the Y-maze on their own volition, walk through it, collect food and find their way out more rapidly after a single foraging experience. The current experimental device is suitable for the evaluation of spatial memory processes and exploratory behaviour in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Moreyra
- Laboratorio Ecotono, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA) - CONICET - Universidad Nacional del Comahue (CRUB), Quintral, 1250 (8400), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Mariana Lozada
- Laboratorio Ecotono, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA) - CONICET - Universidad Nacional del Comahue (CRUB), Quintral, 1250 (8400), Bariloche, Argentina.
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44
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Brock RE, Cini A, Sumner S. Ecosystem services provided by aculeate wasps. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:1645-1675. [PMID: 33913243 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The aculeate wasps are one of the most diverse and speciose insect taxa; they are omnipresent across ecosystems and exhibit diverse co-evolutionary and exploitative associations with other organisms. There is widespread conjecture that aculeate wasps are likely to perform essential ecological and economic services of importance to the health, well-being and nutritional needs of our planet. However, the scope and nature of the ecosystem services they provide are not well understood relative to other insect groups (e.g. bees, butterflies, beetles); an appreciation of their value is further tarnished by their public reputation as pointless pests. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive review of how aculeate wasps contribute to the four main areas of ecosystem services: regulatory, provisioning, supporting and cultural services. Uniting data from a large but previously disconnected literature on solitary and social aculeate wasps, we provide a synthesis on how these insects perform important ecosystem services as parasites, predators, biological indicators, pollinators, decomposers and seed dispersers; and their additional services as a sustainable alternative to meat for human consumption, and medicinal potential as sources of research leads for anti-microbials and cancer treatments. We highlight how aculeate wasps offer substantial, but largely overlooked, economic benefits through their roles in natural pest management and biological control programs. Accordingly, we provide data-driven arguments for reasons to consider the ecosystem service value of aculeate wasps on a par with other 'useful' insects (e.g. bees). Finally, we provide a research roadmap identifying the key areas of research required to capitalise better on the services provided by these important insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Brock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K
| | - Alessandro Cini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy.,Centre for Biodiversity & Environment Research, University College London, Medawar Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Seirian Sumner
- Centre for Biodiversity & Environment Research, University College London, Medawar Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K
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45
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Martínez AS, Rousselot N, Corley JC, Masciocchi M. Nest-departure behaviour of gynes and drones in the invasive yellowjacket Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2021; 111:174-181. [PMID: 32782046 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485320000462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Inbreeding costs can be high in haplodiploid hymenopterans due to their particular mechanism of sex determination (i.e., single-locus complementary sex-determination system, sl-CSD), as it can lead to the production of sterile males. Therefore, mechanisms contributing to reduced inbred matings can be beneficial. In this sense, asynchronous nest departure of sibling drones and gynes could reduce kin encounters in social hymenopterans. Using six observation colonies, we determined under field conditions the nest departure behaviour of sibling reproductives of the social wasp Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). We determined that sexuals leave the nests definitively and detected asynchronous departure not fixed to a particular caste at a seasonal scale in some colonies, as gynes or drones delayed their departure as a function of the departure of the opposite sex, depending on the colony. At a higher temporal resolution (i.e., within a day), we discovered that drones consistently began to leave nests 1 h before gynes and this difference was driven by those individuals that left on the same day as did the opposite-sex kin. Even though other mechanisms such as polyandry and differential dispersal could also be important at reducing inbred matings in the species, the observed departure patterns (i.e., in some colonies actually leave together with the opposite caste, while in others temporal segregation seems to occur) from nests could be complementary to the former and be important at reducing the negative effects of inbreeding in this invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés S Martínez
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche- (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Natalia Rousselot
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche- (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Juan C Corley
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche- (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
- Departamento de Ecología, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Maité Masciocchi
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos, IFAB - Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche- (INTA - CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
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46
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Moreyra S, Lozada M. How behavioral plasticity enables foraging under changing environmental conditions in the social wasp Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:231-237. [PMID: 32017382 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The foraging strategy at abundant resources of the social wasp Vespula germanica includes scanning in the direction of the nest while memorizing resource-specific landmarks and contextual cues. In the present study, we sought to explore wasps' behavioral plasticity on foraging trips to resources whose location and composition changed after a single visit. We evaluated how contextual modifications of food displacement and replacements 60 cm apart from the original site, affect re-orientation for re-finding previously memorized food resources. The results showed that wasps detected and collected the resource faster when more changes were introduced on the following visit. If returning foragers discovered several modifications on both the location and the kind of resource, they collected food more rapidly from the displaced dish, than if only a single parameter in the environment had been changed. These findings illustrate the grade of behavioral plasticity in V. germanica while foraging on abundant resources, which may contribute to the understanding of the prodigious invasive success of this species in anthropized environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Moreyra
- Laboratorio Ecotono, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA)-CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Mariana Lozada
- Laboratorio Ecotono, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente (INIBIOMA)-CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, Bariloche, Argentina
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47
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Demain JG. Insect Migration and Changes in Venom Allergy due to Climate Change. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2021; 41:85-95. [PMID: 33228875 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Insects are highly successful animals. They have limited ability to regulate their temperature and therefore will expand range in response to warming temperatures. Climate change and associated rising global temperature is impacting the range and distribution of stinging insects. There is evidence that many species are expanding range toward the poles, primarily in response to warming. With expanded distribution of stinging insects, increased interaction with humans is anticipated with consequently increased rates of sting-related reactions and need for intervention. This article focuses on evidence that insects are expanding their range in response to warming temperature, increasing likelihood of human interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey G Demain
- Department of Pediatrics, Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center of Alaska, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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48
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Ward D, Brav-Cubitt T, Tassell S. Dataset of host records for introduced parasitoid wasp species (Hymenoptera) in New Zealand. Biodivers Data J 2020; 8:e59472. [PMID: 33304122 PMCID: PMC7723879 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.8.e59472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The introduction of species to new regions is occurring at an increasing rate. These introductions typically consist of species that are deliberately introduced for the purposes of biological control of pests or of species that are accidentally introduced through human-mediated transport networks. Understanding the potential and actual impacts of these introduced species requires comprehensive information on their geographic distributions and biological associations. However, apart from a few well-known case studies, such information is lacking for many introduced species which severely hinders further assessment of risks and impact. New information A dataset is provided on host associations, geographic distributions and dates of collection for both deliberately and accidentally-introduced parasitoid wasp species (Hymenoptera) in New Zealand. Information was obtained by digitising specimens from the New Zealand Arthropod Collection. Dates of records range from 1921 to 2017. The dataset includes 1265 specimen records, representing 127 parasitoid species from 12 families, with host records for 177 host species from 61 families and eight insect orders. These data provide baseline information to help evaluate the risk from introduced parasitoids to non-target and native species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Ward
- New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) - Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) - Landcare Research Auckland New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Talia Brav-Cubitt
- Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand Landcare Research Auckland New Zealand
| | - Sarah Tassell
- New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) - Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) - Landcare Research Auckland New Zealand
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49
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Lefort MC, Beggs JR, Glare TR, Saunders TE, Doyle EJ, Boyer S. A molecular approach to study Hymenoptera diets using wasp nests. NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.63.58640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The study of animal diets has benefited from the rise of high-throughput DNA sequencing applied to stomach content or faecal samples. The latter can be fresh samples used to describe recent meals or older samples, which can provide information about past feeding activities. For most invertebrates, however, it is difficult to access ‘historical’ samples, due to the small size of the animals and the absence of permanent defecation sites. Therefore, sampling must be repeated to account for seasonal variation and to capture the overall diet of a species.
This study develops a method to describe the overall diet of nest-building Hymenoptera, based on a single sampling event, by analysing prey DNA from faeces accumulated in brood cells. We collected 48 nests from two species of introduced paper wasps (Polistes chinensis Fabricius and P. humilis Fabricius) in the urban and peri-urban areas of Auckland, New Zealand and selected two samples per nest. One from brood cells in the outer layer of the nest to represent the most recent diet and one from brood cells in an inner layer to represent older diet.
Diet differed between species, although both fed mainly on Thysanoptera, Lepidoptera and Acariformes. Prey taxa identified to species level included both agricultural pests and native species. Prey communities consumed were significantly different between inner and outer nest samples, suggesting seasonal variation in prey availability and/or a diversification of the wasps’ diet as the colony grows. We also show for the first time potential predation of marine organisms by Polistes wasps.
Our study provides field evidence that Polistes wasps feed on agricultural pests, supporting the hypothesis that some social wasp species could have a suppressing effect on agricultural pests. The proposed methodology is readily applicable to other nest-building Hymenoptera and has the potential to provide comprehensive knowledge about their diet with minimum sampling effort. Such knowledge is essential to measure the ecological impact of invasive Vespidae and support the conservation of native invertebrate biodiversity.
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50
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Naegeli H, Bresson J, Dalmay T, Dewhurst IC, Epstein MM, Guerche P, Hejatko J, Moreno FJ, Mullins E, Nogué F, Rostoks N, Sánchez Serrano JJ, Savoini G, Veromann E, Veronesi F, Bonsall MB, Mumford J, Wimmer EA, Devos Y, Paraskevopoulos K, Firbank LG. Adequacy and sufficiency evaluation of existing EFSA guidelines for the molecular characterisation, environmental risk assessment and post-market environmental monitoring of genetically modified insects containing engineered gene drives. EFSA J 2020; 18:e06297. [PMID: 33209154 PMCID: PMC7658669 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in molecular and synthetic biology are enabling the engineering of gene drives in insects for disease vector/pest control. Engineered gene drives (that bias their own inheritance) can be designed either to suppress interbreeding target populations or modify them with a new genotype. Depending on the engineered gene drive system, theoretically, a genetic modification of interest could spread through target populations and persist indefinitely, or be restricted in its spread or persistence. While research on engineered gene drives and their applications in insects is advancing at a fast pace, it will take several years for technological developments to move to practical applications for deliberate release into the environment. Some gene drive modified insects (GDMIs) have been tested experimentally in the laboratory, but none has been assessed in small-scale confined field trials or in open release trials as yet. There is concern that the deliberate release of GDMIs in the environment may have possible irreversible and unintended consequences. As a proactive measure, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been requested by the European Commission to review whether its previously published guidelines for the risk assessment of genetically modified animals (EFSA, 2012 and 2013), including insects (GMIs), are adequate and sufficient for GDMIs, primarily disease vectors, agricultural pests and invasive species, for deliberate release into the environment. Under this mandate, EFSA was not requested to develop risk assessment guidelines for GDMIs. In this Scientific Opinion, the Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) concludes that EFSA's guidelines are adequate, but insufficient for the molecular characterisation (MC), environmental risk assessment (ERA) and post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of GDMIs. While the MC,ERA and PMEM of GDMIs can build on the existing risk assessment framework for GMIs that do not contain engineered gene drives, there are specific areas where further guidance is needed for GDMIs.
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