Invasion pathway and potential risks of a bamboo-nesting carpenter bee, Xylocopa tranquebarorum (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and its micro-associated mite introduced into Japan

Abstract

Despite plant quarantine systems, many organisms have been unintentionally introduced by the rapid expansion of international trade. Xylocopa tranquebarorum, a large species of carpenter bee that nests in bamboo shoots, was introduced into Japan approximately 5 years ago and, along with its specifically associated mite, has established populations in Toyota and Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture and Anpachi in Gifu Prefecture. Because X. tranquebarorum only nests in dead bamboo shoots and because its associated mite differs from the mite species associated with X. tranquebarorum in Taiwan but is morphologically similar to the species described in India, Indonesia, and China, we suspect that X. tranquebarorum and its mite were introduced via processed bamboo shoots from continental Asia. Because the most probable pathway of associated microorganisms is host introduction, biological and ecological information, such as an inventory of symbionts, is crucial to avoid the risk of invasive symbiotic microorganisms. Although X. tranquebarorum may become a pest in the bamboo industry if its distribution is expanded by human transport, its associated mite is suspected to be of low risk as house dust but to have a high contamination risk for the Japanese endemic mite, Sennertia alfkeni, associated with native Japanese carpenter bees.

Phoresy in animals: review and synthesis of a common but understudied mode of dispersal

“…mites on introduced millipedes in Europe and North America; Farfan & Klompen, 2012). Host switching has also been implicated as a means for the incidental introduction of phoretic species to new geographic areas with potential impacts on humans and native species (Okabe et al ., 2010; Farfan & Klompen, 2012; Shaw, 2012; Giblin‐Davis et al ., 2013). For example, the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus , which causes pine‐wilt disease, was introduced to Japan around 1905.…”

Status and potential distribution of the Asian carpenter bee, Xylocopa appendiculata Smith (Apidae, Xylocopini), in the United States

“…There is evidence of introduced carpenter bees bringing new parasites (and possibly diseases) to invaded areas (Okabe et al 2010;Kontschán et al 2016). There may be new parasites associated with this species that do not occur in the USA that can be potentially damaging to our native Xylocopa species.…”

“…For example, Xylocopa sonorina Smith was allegedly transferred by humans from North America to tropical Pacific islands, including Hawaii (Hurd 1958). More recently, Okabe et al (2010) reported the introduction of the bamboo-nesting carpenter bee Xylocopa tranquebarorum (Swederus) in Japan. These authors also suspected that it was likely introduced from either India or China because of the characteristic mites associated with them.…”

Indirect interactions between a native and a supposedly non-native wasp species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae: Anterhynchium)

“…Finally, at least four other bamboo-associated insects, Xylocopa tranquebarorum tranquebarorum (Swederus, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Sinibotys butleri (South, 1901) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Platylomia pieli Kato, 1938 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) and Hierodula sp. (Mantodea: Mantidae), have been unintentionally introduced to Japan via bamboo products (Okabe et al, 2010;Mano & Takasaki, 2011;Hayashi & Usui, 2017;Sakurai et al, 2018). Given that A. gibbifrons typically nests in dead bamboo canes Endo, 2017), it is possible that it was introduced via bamboo products.…”