Antibacterial potential of Nidus vespae built by invasive alien hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, against food‐borne pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

The yellow‐legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, is an invasive social wasp found in temperate regions and is recognized as a hazardous insect, as it often attacks humans and honeybees. Nidus vespae (nests of social wasps) are traditionally used as a medicinal ingredient; thus, V. v. nigrithorax may be useful as a biological resource. Extracts of Nidus vespae built by V. v. nigrithorax were examined for their antibacterial activity screening against six food‐borne pathogenic bacteria, and the ethyl acetate and butanol layer of the extract exhibited inhibitory activity against the pathogenic bacteria. We determined the antibacterial activity of Nidus vespae built by V. v. nigrithorax for the first time.

Nutritional Value of the Larvae of the Alien Invasive Wasp Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Amino Acid Composition of the Larval Saliva

“…However, in some cases, the control of alien species is made when the valuable utilization of the invasive species as a potential resource are discovered [53]. V. v. nigrithorax was designated an ecological disturbance species in 2019, causing comprehensive impact in Korea, but the attempts to discover the utilization as a useful bioresource from this species are rare [54].…”

Mutualistic Relationships between Microorganisms and Eusocial Wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

“…Mastoparans can cause many different effects on biological organisms and possess cytolytic and antimicrobial activity. Various types have been described in the venom of social wasps belonging to several species of Stenogastrinae [ 15 ], Vespinae ( Vespa tropica —[ 21 ]; V. magnifica , V. orientalis , V. nigrithorax —[ 22 ]; Vespula vulgaris —[ 23 ]; Dolichovespula saxonica —[ 24 ]) and Polistinae ( Agelaia pallipes pallipes —[ 25 ]; Polybia paulista —[ 26 ]; Polybia dymorpha —[ 27 ]; Chartergellus communis —[ 28 ]; Sinoeca surinama —[ 29 ]; Polistes dominula [ 30 ]; P. major major and P. dorsalis dorsalis —[ 31 ]; and P. wattii —[ 32 ]). Moreover, targets of the antimicrobial activity span from bacteria to fungi and even viruses.…”

Vespa velutina: traits and impacts of a successful invasive alien species

“…Por su comportamiento de forrajeo los avispones pueden estar expuestos a una serie de compuestos tóxicos, persistentes y bioacumulables. En Asia, diferentes especies de Vespa spp son apreciadas en gastronomía y medicina (Jeong et al 2020;Kim et al 2020). Por consiguiente, el consumo de avispones contaminados también compromete la salud de las personas (Kwon et al 2019).…”