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Overview of the ongoing researches on the invasion of Vespa velutina

var. nigrothorax (hym.: vespidae), the asian hornet, in europe.

F. J. Muller1*, Q. Rome1, M. Arca2,3, G. Arnold2, M. Barbet-Massin4,

F. Jiguet4, F. Mougel2, A. Perrard1, J-F. Silvain3 and C. Villemant1
1
UMR 7205 CNRS-MNHN, Musum National dHistoire Naturelle, 45 rue Buffon, CP 50,
75005 Paris
2
Laboratoire Evolution, Gnomes, Spciation, CNRS UPR9034, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
3
IRD, UR 072, Laboratoire Evolution, Gntique et Spciation, UPR 9034, CNRS 91198
Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, and Universit Paris-Sud 11, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
4
UMR 7204 CNRS-MNHN, Musum National dHistoire Naturelle CRBPO, CP 51, 55 rue
Buffon, 75005 Paris, France

The high abundance and impact on honeybees of the Asian hornet Vespa
velutina var. nigrithorax have caused great concern among European public
authorities and beekeepers. The species was reported for the first time in France in
2005 and spread out across 66 European districts (ca. 360 000 km2) within 7 years
(INPN, 2012; Rome et al., 2013). Its arrival was reported in 2010 in Northern
Spain, in 2011 in Portugal and Belgium and in 2013 in Italy. Its wider expansion in
Europe is soon to be expected.
We discuss here the advances of the collaborative research project initiated in
2008 in France.
1. The potential invasion risk of the species was assessed using modeling tools of
climatic suitability (Villemant et al., 2011, Barbet-Massin et al., 2013).
Interestingly, the potential distribution of V. v. nigrithorax matches the current
distribution of another invasive social wasp, the German yellow jacket, Vespula
germanica (Beggs et al., 2011).
2. Apart from reported damages on hives, little is known on the biology of V.
velutina throughout its native Asian range. In the invaded range, the impact of
V. v. nigrithorax on the diversity and biomass of the invertebrate fauna is under
study. Preliminary results reported a diversified diet varying among seasons and
habitat types.
3. The genetic variability between individuals of V. v. nigrithorax from France and
Asia was assessed in order to describe the history of its invasion. The analysis

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has evidenced a low variability among the invasive population, which indicates
a single introduction of one or more queens. The sampling of specimens in
France and in the area of origin has been extended to confirm this hypothesis
and the most probable area of origin (Arca, 2012).

Given the potential economic and biological impact of V. v. nigrithorax, a better

understanding of its invasion dynamics is necessary to predict regions at risk,
hence to help with planning dedicated control measures, a prerequisite for
replacing the reactive nature of current solutions with a proactive, predictive
approach.

References
Arca M. (2011) Caractrisation gntique et tude comportementale dune espce
envahissante en France : Vespa velutina Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).
Universit Pierre et Marie Curie, pp.
Beggs J.R., Brockerhoff E.G., Corley J.C., Kenis M., Masciocchi M., Muller F., Rome Q.,
Villemant C. (2011) Ecological effects and management of invasive alien Vespidae.
BioControl 56: 505-526.
Barbet-Massin, M., Rome, Q., Muller, F., Perrard, A., Villemant, C., & Jiguet, F. (2013).
Climate change increases the risk of invasion by the Yellow-legged hornet. Biological
Conservation, 157, 410.
Musum national dHistoire naturelle [Ed]. 2003-2013. Inventaire national du Patrimoine
naturel, site Web : http://inpn.mnhn.fr.
Rome, Q., Dambrine, L., Onate, C., Muller, F., Villemant, C., A. L. Garca Prez, M. Maia,
P. Carvalho Esteves,
Bruneau, E. (2013). Spread of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836, in
Europe in 2012 (Hym., Vespidae). Bulletin de la Socit entomologique de France,
118(1), 2122.
Villemant C., Barbet-Massin M., Perrard A., Muller F., Gargominy O., Jiguet F., Rome Q.
(2011) Predicting the invasion risk by the alien bee-hawking yellow-legged hornet
Vespa velutina nigrithorax across Europe and other continents with niche models.
Biological Conservation 144: 2142-2150

*Corresponding Author: fmuller@mnhn.fr