Vespula Germanica Research Articles

N-(3-methylbutyl)butanamide: A novel amide in the venom of female social wasps, Vespula vulgaris

In New Zealand's ancient Fuscospora spp. or beech forests, two invasive Vespula social wasps Vespula vulgaris (L.) and Vespula germanica (F.) have become significant problems, adversely affecting native birds and invertebrate biodiversity. The nature of chemical communication in these two species is poorly understood, and this work was undertaken to identify the behaviourally active compounds in the venom of the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris (L.). Venom was removed from the stings of both workers and females and analyzed by coupled gas chromatography/electroantennographic detection (GC/EAD) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Two compounds were present in the venom that consistently elicited EAD responses from the antennae of males and workers. Mass spectrometry analysis and syntheses of candidate structures revealed the structures to be N-(3-methylbutyl)acetamide (MBA) and N-(3-methylbutyl)butanamide (MBB). Gyne venom contains significantly larger amounts of MBA and MBB than worker venom. When these two compounds were tested in the field individually or as binary blends in combination with the known food odour (honeydew volatiles), only N-(3-methylbutyl)butanamide or blends containing this compound showed a strong repellent effect on workers to honeydew volatiles at all doses tested. This is the first report of the occurrence of N-(3-methylbutyl)butanamide in nature and the third amide to be identified in the venom of any social wasp. In addition, this work is the first to report the chemical analysis of the venom of V. vulgaris gyne. The repellency effect observed in this study of the venom compound suggests that our definition and understanding of the function of the alarm pheromone need to be reassessed.

Mapping the evolution of accurate Batesian mimicry of social wasps in hoverflies.

Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) provide an excellent opportunity to study the evolution of Batesian mimicry, where defenseless prey avoid predation by evolving to resemble defended "model" species. Although some hoverflies beautifully resemble their hymenopteran models, others seem to be poor mimics or are apparently nonmimetic. The reasons for this variation are still enigmatic despite decades of research. Here, we address this issue by mapping social-wasp mimicry across the phylogeny of Holarctic hoverflies. Using the "distance transform" technique, we calculate an objective measure of the abdominal pattern similarity between 167 hoverfly species and a widespread putative model, the social wasp, Vespula germanica. We find that good wasp mimicry has evolved several times, and may have also been lost, leading to the presence of nonmimics deep within clades of good mimics. Body size was positively correlated with similarity to the model, supporting previous findings that smaller species are often poorer mimics. Additionally, univoltine species were less accurate wasp mimics than multivoltine and bivoltine species. Hence, variation in the accuracy of Batesian mimics may reflect variation in the opportunity for selection caused by differences in prey value or signal perception (influenced by body size) and phenology or generation time (influenced by voltinism).

Spatio-Environmental Analysis of Vespula germanica Nest Records Explains Slow Invasion in South Africa.

Simple SummarySocial wasp invasions can spread quickly and have serious impacts if they reach new regions with favourable climatic conditions. However, in areas less suitable to them, invasion patterns can show factors that may prevent their spread. We use nest records of the German wasp from the southern tip of South Africa, to map and analyse what habitats they seem to prefer. Factors investigated included temperature, rainfall, and moisture availability. We find that this invasive wasp prefers moister and cooler conditions, and because these habitats are patchy in the region they have invaded in South Africa, they can only spread slowly unassisted, and utmost between 50 and 200 km with the assistance of humans. This is the likely reason for the very slow invasion seen in South Africa. The spatial patterns we quantify here make it possible to use a remote-sensing approach to determine the suitability of an area for future invasions. Predicting the likelihood of invasions will greatly aid management actions. Public awareness around the potential accidental transport of the German wasp and similar species should also be undertaken.Investigating the distributions of invasive species in marginal habitats can give clues to the factors constraining invasive spread. Vespula germanica is the most widely distributed of all the invasive Vespids, which in the Southern Hemisphere typically have large extensive invasive populations. In contrast, the invasion into South Africa has been slow and is still confined to a small geographic area. Here we analyse the distribution of all recent nest records in South Africa (n = 405). The distance to main rivers, mean annual rainfall, summer normalised difference moisture index (NDMI) values, and mean annual temperatures (average, minimum, maximum, and summer maximum temperature) was measured for every nest. We find that value ranges of these variables are different between the value ranges recorded for nests, the general distribution area of the wasp, and the area of absence. Optimised Hot Spot Analysis was used to quantify spatial structure in the measured climatic variables. Generally, factors related to moisture stress set the environmental limits of V. germanica’s landscape distribution. Due to the strong preference of nesting sites close to river courses, for higher rainfall conditions, medium to medium-high NDMI values, and lower mean annual temperatures, it is unlikely that V. germanica will be able to spread uniformly where it is currently found in South Africa.

Spatial memory in Vespula germanica wasps: A pilot study using a Y-maze assay

In the present study we analysed spatial learning in Vespula germanica wasps when dealing with a walking Y-maze. We recorded the time taken to leave the maze during two consecutive visits and which of the two short arms was chosen to exit. Two treatments were conducted to evaluate whether wasps learned to leave the Y-maze guided either by spatial or visual cues. In Treatment 1, the colour of both arms remained unchanged between two consecutive visits; and in Treatment 2, the position of the coloured arm was switched after the first trial. Our results demonstrated that the time taken to exit the maze on the second trial was less than half in both treatments and wasps left the maze from the previously chosen arm, irrespective of its colour. This is the first study to demonstrate spatial learning in V. germanica wasps by using a walking Y-maze. Free flying wasps learned to enter the Y-maze on their own volition, walk through it, collect food and find their way out more rapidly after a single foraging experience. The current experimental device is suitable for the evaluation of spatial memory processes and exploratory behaviour in this species.

Cuticular hydrocarbons as cues of caste and sex in the German wasp Vespula germanica

The complex system of communication used by social insects is responsible for their success on Earth. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are considered the most commonly used form of communication among social insects. The best-known function of CHCs is to distinguish nestmates, providing cues to the whole colony to identify potential threats. In some species, CHCs function as queen pheromones, which contribute to the queens’ ability to regulate the reproductive division of labor. Additionally, differences of CHCs were described in castes and they are also important in sex recognition. Here, we reinvestigated the chemical composition on the cuticle of German wasp Vespula germanica and we found that proportions of linear alkanes were more abundant in the cuticle of queens than other castes. Chemical analysis between caste and sex, including data of virgin queens and males, showed that each group possesses different compositions on their cuticle, being mostly quantitative differences. Thus, individuals of V. germanica may recognize and discriminate caste and sex through subtle chemical variations, or alternatively, based on templates used in nestmate recognition. The chemical analysis provides correlative evidence of CHCs being used as cues in the chemical communication of this species.

ECOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF Vespula. Germanica

Vespula germanica ( German wasp) is considered a dangerous pest that attacks bees and orchards, and its sting harmful to humans , found in much of the Northern Hemisphere, Khalaf was recorded in Iraq in 1958, it was limited to registration within the Iraqi insects fauna only, and no any biological or environmental studies in Iraq. Therefore, study aimed for understanding of some aspects of the insect. During three years, 2018-2019- and 2020, field survey in different fields in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan, collected 27 nests to investigate several colony characteristics. Our study showed the size of mature nests is correlated to number of individuals produced. observed that the German hornet builds its nests in different places as on trees and shrubs, on roofs of houses , buildings, animal pens, poultry fields, and near water sources. Queen begins to appear at beginning of May, workers at beginning of July, as for the males and virgins, they appeared in October. And all members cast die in winter except newly fertilized queens remain, who hibernate to next season. Showed the activity of workers increases with the progression of the hours of the day and that their highest activity is during the hour (9-11) in the morning, at rate 100 wasps/hour. seasonal activity starts from May to November, and highest activity recording during July, August, and September. The highest average of sealed brood area 3.11inch during July , highest average number of hexagonal eyes 91 eyes/nest in October.

A century of social wasp occupancy trends from natural history collections: spatiotemporal resolutions have little effect on model performance

ABSTRACT The current dearth of long‐term insect population trends is a major obstacle to conservation. Occupancy models have been proposed as a solution, but it remains unclear whether they can yield long‐term trends from natural history collections, since specimen records are normally very sparse. A common approach for sparse data is to coarsen its spatial and/or temporal resolution, although coarsening risks violating model assumptions. We (i) test whether occupancy trends of three social wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) species – the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), the German wasp (Vespula germanica) and the European hornet (Vespa crabro) – have changed in England between 1900 and 2016, and (ii) test the effect of spatiotemporal resolution on the performance of occupancy models using very sparse data. All models are based on an integrated dataset of occurrence records and natural history collection specimen records. We show that occupancy models can yield long‐term species‐specific trends from very sparse natural history collection specimens. We present the first quantitative trends for three Vespinae species in England over 116 years. Vespula vulgaris and V. germanica show stable trends over the time series, whilst V. crabro's occupancy decreased from 1950 to 1970 and increased since 1970. Moreover, we show that spatiotemporal resolution has little effect on model performance, although coarsening the spatial grain is an appropriate method for achieving enough records to estimate long‐term changes. With the increasing availability of biological records, the model formulation used here has the potential to provide novel insights by making use of natural history collections' unique specimen assemblages.

DNA metabarcoding of prey reveals spatial, temporal and diet partitioning of an island ecosystem by four invasive wasps

Abstract Invasive alien species can cause detrimental changes in native ecosystems, but our understanding of the interactions between multiple exotic species is limited. To evaluate the joint effect of multiple sympatric invaders on an ecosystem, we must first understand how they interact with each other. Here, we quantified the spatial distribution, dietary composition and overlap of four invasive generalist vespid species (two Vespula and two Polistes) that co‐occur on Ahuahu off the north‐east coast of New Zealand. We used DNA metabarcoding of larval faecal material to identify prey species, and mapped the locations of nests. We observed clear spatial partitioning, with different wasp species aggregating in different habitats. Diet differed both among wasp species (diet partitioning) and among seasons (temporal partitioning). There was stronger competition (highest diet overlap) between Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris than between other wasp species, but partitioning resources minimised spatial and diet overlap between the four species. Additionally, we obtained high‐resolution diet inventories that help assess the combined ecological impact of invasion by multiple wasps. These species consumed mostly native and endemic invertebrates from multiple trophic levels, but particularly herbivores (Lepidoptera). We provide direct evidence that in combination they exploited a wide range of endemic invertebrates. Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates resource partitioning among four invasive wasps, facilitating coexistence of these generalist invaders. We conclude that coexistence probably amplifies their ecological impact. Quantifying how multiple invaders exploit and partition resources provides insights into how communities assemble and helps to assess the cumulative effects of multiple invaders on the recipient community.

Invasive brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) facilitates feeding of European wasps and ants (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Formicidae) on plant exudates

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is a polyphagous species from eastern Asia, which has spread to America and Europe where it damages many crops. In recently colonized areas, facilitative interactions between H. halys and native insects are poorly investigated. In this study, we report for the first time facilitation of native wasp and ant feeding by H. halys in Europe. The facilitation was related to the outflow of plant exudates caused by H. halys feeding on manna ash trees, where they have aggregated in response to an aggregation pheromone, which then attracted species of Hymenoptera to the infested trees. Trees other than manna ash were not involved in the facilitation between these two taxa. The species that frequently visited infested manna ash were Polistes dominula, Vespa crabro, Formica (Serviformica) cunicularia and Lasius emarginatus, while Polistes cf. nimpha, Vespula germanica, Crematogaster scutellaris and Tapinoma subboreale were occasional visitors. The numbers of wasps and ants feeding on plant exudates differed at different times in a day, with more Hymenoptera foraging in the afternoon, when more H. halys individuals were actively feeding. Facilitative interactions, such as those recorded in this study, are important for furthering our understanding of the ecology of invasive species in terms of creating sources of food for native organisms.

Chromosome-level reference genome of the European wasp spider Argiope bruennichi: a resource for studies on range expansion and evolutionary adaptation.

Background Argiope bruennichi, the European wasp spider, has been investigated intensively as a focal species for studies on sexual selection, chemical communication, and the dynamics of rapid range expansion at a behavioral and genetic level. However, the lack of a reference genome has limited insights into the genetic basis for these phenomena. Therefore, we assembled a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of the European wasp spider as a tool for more in-depth future studies.FindingsWe generated, de novo, a 1.67 Gb genome assembly of A. bruennichi using 21.8× Pacific Biosciences sequencing, polished with 19.8× Illumina paired-end sequencing data, and proximity ligation (Hi-C)-based scaffolding. This resulted in an N50 scaffold size of 124 Mb and an N50 contig size of 288 kb. We found 98.4% of the genome to be contained in 13 scaffolds, fitting the expected number of chromosomes (n = 13). Analyses showed the presence of 91.1% of complete arthropod BUSCOs, indicating a high-quality assembly.ConclusionsWe present the first chromosome-level genome assembly in the order Araneae. With this genomic resource, we open the door for more precise and informative studies on evolution and adaptation not only in A. bruennichi but also in arachnids overall, shedding light on questions such as the genomic architecture of traits, whole-genome duplication, and the genomic mechanisms behind silk and venom evolution.

The structure of temperate yellowjacket communities is affected by land development and loss of forest cover

Abstract As anthropogenic disturbance continues to encroach on natural areas, it is imperative to establish how this disturbance affects species assemblages. Yellowjackets are important predators of a wide range of arthropods, acting as natural population control in many ecosystems. This study seeks to explore how Vespinae community structure shifts with increasing land development in a temperate North American environment. Yellowjackets were sampled from May to September 2019 using heptyl butyrate and acetic acid plus isobutanol traps. Sampling sites represented a gradient of developed landscapes, from fully forested to entirely developed. Seven species from the genera Dolichovespula and Vespula were trapped during the study. Yellowjacket community structure was found to be significantly affected by the amount of land development. These results were driven by the replacement of Vespula consobrina with Vespula germanica in urban landscapes. A high level of development, greater than 75%, reduced species abundance relative to the fully forested landscapes, primarily due to the loss of Vespula pensylvanica and V. consobrina. Our results highlight that the replacement of forested areas with urban development causes a shift in yellowjacket community composition, favouring generalist scavengers (e.g. V. germanica) and threatening the abundance of forest specialists such as V. consobrina.

Epidemiology of Hymenoptera venom allergy in the Valencia Fire Brigade (Spain)

The prevalence of Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) correlates with the number of stings.1 On the Spanish Mediterranean coast, the most prevalent Hymenoptera insects are Apis mellifera, Polistes dominula, and Vespula germanica.2 In this setting, firefighters are responsible for removing wasp nests and beehives around cities, increasing their exposure to stings (see Table E1 in this article's Online Repository at www.jaci-inpractice.org) and their risk of an allergic reaction. Little research has been published on Hymenoptera stings in this population.

High-Quality Assemblies for Three Invasive Social Wasps from the Vespula Genus.

Social wasps of the genus Vespula have spread to nearly all landmasses worldwide and have become significant pests in their introduced ranges, affecting economies and biodiversity. Comprehensive genome assemblies and annotations for these species are required to develop the next generation of control strategies and monitor existing chemical control. We sequenced and annotated the genomes of the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), German wasp (Vespula germanica), and the western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica). Our chromosome-level Vespula assemblies each contain 176–179 Mb of total sequence assembled into 25 scaffolds, with 10–200 unanchored scaffolds, and 16,566–18,948 genes. We annotated gene sets relevant to the applied management of invasive wasp populations, including genes associated with spermatogenesis and development, pesticide resistance, olfactory receptors, immunity and venom. These genomes provide evidence for active DNA methylation in Vespidae and tandem duplications of venom genes. Our genomic resources will contribute to the development of next-generation control strategies, and monitoring potential resistance to chemical control.

Evidence of associative blocking during foraging in the social wasp Vespula germanica.

While foraging, Vespula germanica usually return to abundant food sites. During this relocation behavior, these wasps learn to identify contextual cues associated with food position. We analyzed associative blocking in this species, that is, how an association with a conditioned stimulus (CS1) blocks subsequent learning when a novel stimulus (CS2) is added on a second foraging visit. Three groups of wasps (A, B, and C; total 74 individual wasps) were observed while collecting meat during one or two consecutive visits. In group A, an environmental cue (CS1) was paired with food placed at a specific site, and on the second visit, a second cue (CS2) was added while food remained in the same position. In a subsequent testing phase, CS1 was removed and the food source displaced nearby. We then recorded the number of hovers performed over the empty dish (previously baited). Group A wasps appeared to ignore the addition of CS2 on their second visit because they performed fewer hovers over the learned site. For group A, the duration of the decision-making process to finally fly toward the baited dish was shorter than when CS1 and CS2 were presented together on their first visit (group B). This is the first study to demonstrate the occurrence of associative blocking in vespids, confirming that a prior foraging experience influences subsequent food relocation in V. germanica. Our findings reveal that first learning episodes block further associations with novel contextual cues, contributing to understanding of complex cognitive processes involved in V. germanica´s foraging behavior.

Nest-departure behaviour of gynes and drones in the invasive yellowjacket Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

Inbreeding costs can be high in haplodiploid hymenopterans due to their particular mechanism of sex determination (i.e., single-locus complementary sex-determination system, sl-CSD), as it can lead to the production of sterile males. Therefore, mechanisms contributing to reduced inbred matings can be beneficial. In this sense, asynchronous nest departure of sibling drones and gynes could reduce kin encounters in social hymenopterans. Using six observation colonies, we determined under field conditions the nest departure behaviour of sibling reproductives of the social wasp Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). We determined that sexuals leave the nests definitively and detected asynchronous departure not fixed to a particular caste at a seasonal scale in some colonies, as gynes or drones delayed their departure as a function of the departure of the opposite sex, depending on the colony. At a higher temporal resolution (i.e., within a day), we discovered that drones consistently began to leave nests 1 h before gynes and this difference was driven by those individuals that left on the same day as did the opposite-sex kin. Even though other mechanisms such as polyandry and differential dispersal could also be important at reducing inbred matings in the species, the observed departure patterns (i.e., in some colonies actually leave together with the opposite caste, while in others temporal segregation seems to occur) from nests could be complementary to the former and be important at reducing the negative effects of inbreeding in this invasive species.

Biotechnologies in pest wasp control: taking the sting out of pest management for Māori businesses?

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the government’s ambitious target of becoming “predator-free” by 2050 has reignited public discussion on biotechnologies. The disproportionate abundance of German and common wasps in New Zealand disrupts native biodiversity and costs $133 million annually to the economy, making exotic wasps an expedient trial pest species for novel biotechnological controls. Māori businesses occupy primary industries said to benefit from wasp control. A Māori-centered mixed-method study gauged the perceptions of eight Māori businesses about the potential use of five specific new biotechnological controls in pest management. Participants raised concerns about risk and side effects; called for further information and a reconfiguring of how information is presented; reflected on previous pest challenges; and took positions in reference to Māori customary concepts. While all agree that doing nothing is not an option, careful, informed deliberation is required on whether and how best to move forward with these new biotechnological controls.

Social Wasps (Vespinae) in Urban Gardens and Woods

Global change, including urbanization, affects species ecology. Social wasps (Vespinae) are ubiquitous in urban areas, which increases their encounters with humans. We studied social wasps in urban gardens and nearby urban woods in central Finland, using beer traps. Social wasps were common in gardens and woods, and overall wasp abundance was higher in the woods. Also, the most abundant and frequent species Vespula vulgaris was more abundant in the woods than in the gardens. Variation in the overall abundance and the abundance of V. vulgaris was great among trap locations, which likely results from wasps' social nesting habits. Neither the abundance of all social wasps nor that of V. vulgaris differed between July and August. Our study suggests that urban woods might increase wasp abundance in adjacent gardens. Vespula germanica — a species expanding its range northwards in Finland — was documented for the first time from central Finland. The ongoing global change is likely to change wasp communities and their encounters with humans in urban environments.

Foraging experience modulates response to aversive odour cues in social wasps

Experience can modify how animals respond to relevant stimuli from their environment, for example, through associative learning. In particular, odour stimuli play a central role in foraging by influencing decision making. Numerous studies have shown that odours can acquire relevance for an animal by becoming associated with food after appetitive experience. Therefore, studying to what extent learning can modulate the behavioural response to olfactory stimuli is essential to improve our understanding about the role of experience in food exploitation in nature. Here, we evaluated whether foraging experience can modulate the response of Vespula germanica , a food generalist and opportunistic eusocial wasp, towards an aversive odour. Through field experiments, we evaluated the response of naïve and experienced wasps towards an aversive odour under different scenarios, to also examine how these changes affect foraging decisions. Both naïve wasps and wasps that had foraging experience in the absence of the aversive odour were not attracted to the odour alone and avoided meat sources paired with this cue. However, wasps that had foraging experience with the aversive odour showed an opposite behavioural pattern; they preferred meat sources with the aversive odour and were equally attracted to this odour and the meat source. The behavioural repertoire (i.e. approaches, landings and search behaviour) elicited by the aversive odour after experience with it indicates that change in the response was due to associative learning, leading the odour which was initially repellent, to become attractive. Interestingly, the change in the aversive odour's valence occurred after one collecting experience and three to five visits promoted long-term memory of the odour. In conclusion, our results show that spontaneous responses to odours can be modulated by experience and provide new insights about learning and memory abilities of social wasps in relation to olfactory cues. • Foraging experience can modulate the response to olfactory cues in eusocial wasps. • An initially aversive odour can become attractive after appetitive experiences. • Foragers can learn to associate odours with protein-rich sources as reward. • We found long-term memory after 24 h related to the attractiveness of the odour. • Single appetitive experiences can notably impact foraging decisions.

Invasive European wasps alter scavenging dynamics around carrion

European wasps (Vespula germanica) have invaded parts of North and South America, Australia and New Zealand. They are opportunistic predators and scavengers that can disrupt food webs and species interactions, but their role in food webs associated with carrion is poorly understood. In this study we examined wasp abundance at 20 vertebrate carcasses in south-eastern Australia. We also collected data on the abundance of blowflies and the occurrence and behavior of vertebrate scavengers at the same carcasses. Wasps arrived within minutes of deploying fresh carcasses and were approximately 4.3 times more abundant in forest compared with grassland habitats. Wasps killed and mutilated native blowflies and may have prevented them from ovipositing on carcasses, as we subsequently found that these carcasses were devoid of fly larvae. European wasps also appeared to interfere with dingoes (Canis dingo) feeding on carcasses, based on observations from cameras showing dingoes snapping their heads in the air and then retreating from the carcasses suddenly. The other major vertebrate scavenger in the system, feral pigs (Sus scrofa), did not show similar behavioral responses. Although we observed European wasps feeding on carcasses, carcass mass loss was slow. This could be a direct result of European wasps suppressing flies and potentially excluding dingoes from accessing carcasses. We conclude that European wasps may alter the way energy flows through scavenging food webs, which could have cascading impacts on ecosystem dynamics and services, although manipulative experiments would help to further evaluate these possibilities.

Hydrocarbon Signatures of the Ectoparasitoid Sphecophaga vesparum Shows Wasp Host Dependency.

Sphecophaga vesparum often parasitizes nests of vespid wasps such as Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica. Inside the colonies, the ectoparasitic larvae feed on the immature forms of the wasps. There are two adult forms of S. vesparum. The large, winged adults emerge from either rigid yellow cocoons or the orange cocoons used for overwintering. The small, brachypterous females emerge from soft, white cocoons. The species is facultative deuterotokous, producing mostly parthenogenic females and infrequently producing males. Here, we describe the production of chemical compounds related to the different developmental forms of the parasitoid S. vesparum (larvae, pupae and adults). We also compare the chemical profiles of the parasitoid wasp adults to those of their two main host species, Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica. The results show differences in hydrocarbon composition of larvae, pupae and adults of S. vesparum. Our results also suggest a partial mimicry of each of the two host species, mostly relating to linear alkanes present in both parasitoids and the host vespid wasp species. This matching is likely due to the recycling of the prey’s hydrocarbons, as has been found in other species of parasitoids.