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Rojas-Nossa SV, Mato S, Feijoo P, Lagoa A, Garrido J. Comparison of Effectiveness and Selectiveness of Baited Traps for the Capture of the Invasive Hornet Vespa velutina. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:129. [PMID: 38200860 PMCID: PMC10778013 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The invasive hornet Vespa velutina affects apiculture, biodiversity, and human health. The use of baited traps with the aim of reducing the population and mitigating its impacts is a common practice. However, the lack of impact on the number of colonies and the high capture rate of non-target insects make it controversial. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness and selectiveness of four trap models. We measured effectiveness as the capture rate of V. velutina per day per trap, and selectiveness as the capture rate of V. velutina/capture rate of non-target species. The E trap had better performance with a higher selectiveness and effectiveness. Traps V and X had a higher effectiveness but the lowest selectiveness, with high capture rates of native insects, including threatened species. The R trap had the lowest effectiveness and selectiveness. Results show that small changes in the design can contribute to achieving more sustainable tools. Otherwise, with the current tools, bait trapping continues to be non-sustainable from an environmental perspective due to the impacts on native biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra V. Rojas-Nossa
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain; (S.M.); (P.F.); (A.L.)
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Requier F, Fournier A, Pointeau S, Rome Q, Courchamp F. Economic costs of the invasive Yellow-legged hornet on honey bees. Sci Total Environ 2023; 898:165576. [PMID: 37467993 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions have ecological impacts worldwide with potential massive economic costs. Among other ecosystem services such as nitrogen cycle, carbon sequestration and primary production, invasive alien species are particularly known to impact pollination. By predating honey bees (Apis mellifera), the invasive Yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) increases the mortality risk of European bee colonies; however, little is known about its economic costs. We developed an analytic process combining large-scale field data, niche modelling techniques and agent-based models to spatially assess the ecological and economic impacts of the Yellow-legged hornet on honey bees and beekeeping in France. In particular, we estimated (i) the hornet-related risk of bee colony mortality, (ii) the economic cost of colony loss for beekeepers and (iii) the economic impact of livestock replacement compared to honey revenues at regional and national scales. We estimated an overall density of 1.08 hornet nest/km2 in France, based on the field record of 1260 nests over a searched area of 28,348 km2. However, this predator density was heterogeneously spread out across the country as well as the distribution of managed honey bee colonies. Overall, this hornet-related risk of bee colony mortality could reach up to 29.2 % of the beekeepers' livestock at national scale each year in high predation scenario. This national cost could reach as much as € 30.8 million per year due to colony loss, which represents for beekeepers an economic impact of livestock replacement of 26.6 % of honey revenues. Our results suggest non-negligible ecological and economic impacts of the invasive Yellow-legged hornet on honey bees and beekeeping activities. Moreover, this study meets the urgent need for more numerous and accurate economic estimations, necessary to calculate the impact of biological invasions on biodiversity and human goods, with a view to enhance policies of biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Requier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Alice Fournier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405 Orsay, France; Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives (BTSB), EA7417 Université de Toulouse, INU Champollion, 81000 Albi, France
| | - Sophie Pointeau
- ITSAP - Institut de l'abeille, Domaine Saint-Paul, CS 40509, 84914 Avignon, France
| | | | - Franck Courchamp
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405 Orsay, France
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O'Shea-Wheller TA, Curtis RJ, Kennedy PJ, Groom EKJ, Poidatz J, Raffle DS, Rojas-Nossa SV, Bartolomé C, Dasilva-Martins D, Maside X, Mato S, Osborne JL. Quantifying the impact of an invasive Hornet on Bombus terrestris Colonies. Commun Biol 2023; 6:990. [PMID: 37798331 PMCID: PMC10556089 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05329-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax is considered a proliferating threat to pollinators in Europe and Asia. While the impact of this species on managed honey bees is well-documented, effects upon other pollinator populations remain poorly understood. Nonetheless, dietary analyses indicate that the hornets consume a diversity of prey, fuelling concerns for at-risk taxa. Here, we quantify the impact of V. velutina upon standardised commercially-reared colonies of the European bumblebee, Bombus terrestris terrestris. Using a landscape-scale experimental design, we deploy colonies across a gradient of local V. velutina densities, utilising automated tracking to non-invasively observe bee and hornet behaviour, and quantify subsequent effects upon colony outcomes. Our results demonstrate that hornets frequently hunt at B. terrestris colonies, being preferentially attracted to those with high foraging traffic, and engaging in repeated-yet entirely unsuccessful-predation attempts at nest entrances. Notably however, we show that B. terrestris colony weights are negatively associated with local V. velutina densities, indicating potential indirect effects upon colony growth. Taken together, these findings provide the first empirical insight into impacts on bumblebees at the colony level, and inform future mitigation efforts for wild and managed pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A O'Shea-Wheller
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom.
| | - Robin J Curtis
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J Kennedy
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen K J Groom
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Juliette Poidatz
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
- UMR PVBMT, Peuplements Végétaux et Bioagresseurs en Milieu Tropical, CIRAD, 97410, Saint Pierre, La Réunion, France
| | - David S Raffle
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra V Rojas-Nossa
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Carolina Bartolomé
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15781, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Damián Dasilva-Martins
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15781, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Xulio Maside
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15781, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Salustiano Mato
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | - Juliet L Osborne
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR109FE, United Kingdom
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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