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Hettiarachchi A, Cnockaert M, Joossens M, Laureys D, De Clippeleer J, Vereecken NJ, Michez D, Smagghe G, de Graaf DC, Vandamme P. Convivina is a specialised core gut symbiont of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 32:510-527. [PMID: 37204105 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12847] [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: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We provide a culturomics analysis of the cultivable bacterial communities of the crop, midgut and hindgut compartments, as well as the ovaries, of the invasive insect Vespa velutina, along with a cultivation-independent analysis of samples of the same nest through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The Vespa velutina bacterial symbiont community was dominated by the genera Convivina, Fructobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Lactococcus, Sphingomonas and Spiroplasma. Lactococcus lactis and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum represented generalist core lactic acid bacteria (LAB) symbionts, while Convivina species and Fructobacillus fructosus represented highly specialised core LAB symbionts with strongly reduced genome sizes. Sphingomonas and Spiroplasma were the only non-LAB core symbionts but were not isolated. Convivina bacteria were particularly enriched in the hornet crop and included Convivina intestini, a species adapted towards amino acid metabolism, and Convivina praedatoris sp. nov. which was adapted towards carbohydrate metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Hettiarachchi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Margo Cnockaert
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie Joossens
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - David Laureys
- Innovation Centre for Brewing & Fermentation, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jessika De Clippeleer
- Innovation Centre for Brewing & Fermentation, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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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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Lima CG, Sofia Vaz A, Honrado JP, Aranha J, Crespo N, Vicente JR. The invasion by the Yellow-legged hornet: a systematic review. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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