Abstract
The yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Lepeletier 1836), is native to Southeast Asia and has been unintentionally introduced in France. The species is spreading in many areas of the world. The European Union has classified V. velutina as a species of concern because the hornet significantly affects beekeeping activities, mostly by preying honeybees (Apis mellifera) at beehive entrances. No current control method is simultaneously eco-friendly and effective. Here, we aimed to develop a greener technique for destroying V. velutina nests, inspired by a defense behavior used by the eastern honeybee (Apis cerana), the “heat ball”. In the laboratory, we tested how V. velutina of different sexes, castes, and developmental stages responded to different heat exposure systems employing a range of temperature levels. Overall, the time of death decreased as temperature increased. Hornets died faster when the temperature was gradually increased than when it was instantaneously increased; larvae seemed to be more thermally tolerant. The most promising and potential technique for quickly destroying hornet nests may be steam injection, as the humid airflow system killed all hornets within 13 seconds, and therefore could be a good candidate for a green nest control method.
Highlights
Invasive species are among the leading threats to native wildlife [1,2,3], and their presence requires ever more intensive management approaches
To elaborate an eco-friendly method for destroying V. velutina nests, we looked to natural systems
There was a marked difference in the time of death of gyne between 50 ̊C and the three higher temperatures (Tukey test: P < 0.05, q50-60 = 5.913, q50-70 = 9.387, q50-80 = 11.531) as well as between 60 ̊C and ̊C (60 ̊C) and 80 ̊C (Tukey test: P < 0.05, q60-80 = 5.619)
Summary
Invasive species are among the leading threats to native wildlife [1,2,3], and their presence requires ever more intensive management approaches. A species is considered to be invasive when it spread over a large area outside their native range, producing negative impacts on biodiversity, human health, and activities [1, 4, 5]. Human travel and international trade are largely responsible for spreading non-native species, frequently across the entire globe, and often unintentionally [6]. Invasive species pose a direct threat by outcompeting native species for food or other resources [7], preying on native species, and causing or carrying disease [8,9,10,11].
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