First Discovery of Vespa velutina nigrithorax du Buysson (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), an Invasive Hornet in the Feces of the Yellow-Throated Marten in South Korea

Abstract

Yellow-throated martens (YTMs) are omnivores that often prey on wasps in late autumn in Korea. However, to the best of our knowledge, predation of the invasive alien species Vespa velutina nigrithorax (VVN) has not previously been investigated. In this study, YTM feces were collected and analyzed from Mt. Onggangsan, Sinwon-ri, Cheongdo, South Korea, where VVN density was high and YTMs were active. Surveys were conducted three times between October and December 2019, during which a total of 22 samples were collected. Debris from VVN was found in three samples, along with evidence of two indigenous wasps, Vespa crabro and Vespula koreensis. The VVN remains were identified as one queen, four males, one female, and one individual whose caste was unclear. Martens prey on wasps, owing to a sudden decrease in plant food sources from late autumn to early winter, mostly eating males and new queens attempting to mate. If VVN reproduction is prevented or disturbed by YTM predation, there may be potential biological control effects in areas with high VVN density. Further studies should be conducted to verify whether there is a practical biological control effect.

Host Range Expansion of Nest-Parasitic Moths Pyralis regalis and Hypsopygia mauritialis in Social Wasp Nests: New Findings and Implications for Biological Control

“…The invasive alien hornet, V. velutina nigrithorax, which was introduced to the Republic of Korea from China in 2003, has spread throughout the Republic of Korea [18,44] and Europe, causing negative impacts [45]. Only few natural enemies of this hornet were ever documented in Europe and the Republic of Korea, where the conopid fly [46], nematode [47], and marten [48] have been studied as predators. Therefore, the occurrence of P. regalis and H. mauritialis is the very first record of nest-parasitic moths of V. velutina nigrithorax in an invaded country, the Republic of Korea.…”

On the Evidence of the European Bee-Eater (<em>Merops apiaster</em>) as a Predator of the Yellow-Legged Hornet (<em>Vespa velutina</em>) and its Potential Contribution as a Biological Control Agent

“…Wasp predators are mostly birds, but there are also references to several mammal species preying on or opportunistically consuming wasps [7,22,23]. For example, in Europe, the European Badger (Meles meles) is known to dig the secondary nests of social wasps in the soil, eating larvae, adults, combs and the envelope of the nests [24,25], in summer or early autumn [26].…”

On the Evidence of the European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) as a Predator of the Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) and Its Possible Contribution as a Biocontrol Agent

“…Wasp predators are mostly birds, but there are also references to several mammal species preying on or opportunistically consuming wasps [ 7 , 23 , 24 ]. For example, in Europe, the European Badger ( Meles meles ) is known to dig the secondary nests of social wasps in the soil, eating larvae, adults, combs and the envelope of the nests [ 25 , 26 ], in summer or early autumn [ 27 ].…”