Abstract
The Asian hornet Vespa velutina is a social predator that has invaded several countries of Europe and Asia, impacting pollinators, apiculture and human health. One of the few effective control methods developed so far is the early destruction of nests. However, they are often built within dense vegetation, being difficult to detect. The aim of the method described here is to detect nests with a simple procedure, utilizing readily available materials, for widespread use in infested areas. The method has two phases, the first phase involves capturing and marking hornets, lured to a protein bait, and recording the flight directions of individuals to the nest and the time needed to complete a bait-nest-bait round trip, to estimate the distance. Collecting this information from two (or more) bait stations allows to delineate the approximate location of the nest. The second phase aims to determine the precise location of the nest, using sugary baits in the vicinity of the nest and conspicuous marks attached to the released hornets, to visually follow them up to their nest. This method is an alternative to other methods that are either ineffective in areas with high nest density or require expensive equipment and specialized training.
Highlights
The Yellow-legged hornet or Asian hornet (Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1,836) is an invasive species with detrimental impacts on biodiversity, human health and economic sectors [1]
Detection and destruction of colonies before new generations of reproductive individuals emerge is to date the most effective strategy to control the invasive population of V. velutina [5]
We describe an alternative method of visual tracking that is simple to execute and has proven to be effective in areas with a high density of nests and dense vegetation
Summary
The Yellow-legged hornet or Asian hornet (Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1,836) is an invasive species with detrimental impacts on biodiversity, human health and economic sectors [1] This eusocial vespid is a ferocious predator of insects, especially pollinators, which leads to impacts to the pollination services of native plants [2]. Colony nests are built of wood fibers chewed and mixed with saliva [6] in a variety of artificial and natural substrates, often hidden among the vegetation, or high in the tree canopy. This hinders early detection, since nests are difficult to distinguish from leaves and branches. Developing practical and inexpensive procedures for early detection of nests is crucial for effective population control [7]
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