The ‘I see you’ prey–predator signal of Apis cerana is innate

Abstract

An 'I see you' (ISY) prey-predator signal can co-evolve when such a signal benefits both prey and predator. The prey benefits if, by producing the signal, the predator is likely to break off an attack. The predator benefits if it is informed by the signal that the prey is aware of its presence and can break off what is likely to be an unsuccessful and potentially costly hunt. Because the signal and response co-evolve in two species, the behaviour underlying an ISY signal is expected to have a strong genetic component and cannot be entirely learned. An example of an ISY signal is the 'shimmering' behaviour performed by Asian hive bee workers in the presence of their predator Vespa velutina. To test the prediction that bee-hornet signalling is heritable, we let honey bee workers of two species emerge in an incubator so that they had never been exposed to V. velutina. In Apis cerana, the shimmering response developed 48 h post-emergence, was strong after 72 h and increased further over 2 weeks. In contrast, A. mellifera, which has evolved in the absence of Asian hornets, did not produce the shimmering signal. In control tests, A. cerana workers exposed to a non-threatening butterfly did not respond with the shimmering signal.

Competition between the native and the introduced hornets Vespa crabro and Vespa velutina: a comparison of potentially relevant life‐history traits

“…Such a preference is quite interesting as it underlines a rather evident specialisation in feeding behaviour of both species towards A. mellifera honeybee prey, although both species are considered semi-specialists (Matsuura, 1991). Honeybee colonies represent an excellent protein source for a growing nest of hornets (Ono et al, 1995); the high concentration of potential prey and the lack of effective defensive strategies (Tan et al, 2012(Tan et al, , 2013Arca et al, 2014) could explain the dietary preferences shown by workers in our trials. Thus, it is likely that, in case of beehive availability, hornets of both species would concentrate their foraging effort on the preferred prey, therefore increasing the chances of competition.…”

Spatial distribution of Vespa velutina individuals hunting at domestic honeybee hives: heterogeneity at a local scale

“…In its area of origin, V. velutina preys on Apis cerana and the introduced European honeybee, Apis mellifera . Contrary to A. cerana , A. mellifera is more vulnerable to vespid predators, presumably because it did not coevolve with this hornet species (Ken et al ., ; Tan et al ., , , , , ). In France, predation by V. velutina weakens native honeybee colonies toward the end of summer.…”

Native Prey and Invasive Predator Patterns of Foraging Activity: The Case of the Yellow-Legged Hornet Predation at European Honeybee Hives

“…neckteeth in Daphnia sp. [6]), warning signals (including behaviours, sounds and colours, i.e., aposematism) or alternatively crypsis [7]–[11], and/or direct behavioural response (fleeing [12], feigning death [13], [14], attacking [15]–[18]). Conversely, predators are selected for their efficacy to acquire prey, i.e., in bypassing their defence [19]–[24].…”

“…In its native area, V. velutina hunts the native and the introduced honeybee species, Apis cerana and A. mellifera respectively. Apis cerana which is supposed to have co-evolved with V. velutina is able to exhibit efficient antipredator behaviours against this hornet species whereas A. mellifera is less defensive thus suffering a higher predation pressure [10], [11], [15]–[18]. The introduction of this hornet species into France generates the reversed situation, A. mellifera being the native prey and V. velutina the alien predator.…”

“…Interestingly, studies involving V. velutina have been mainly focused on the defensive behaviours of A. mellifera and A. cerana such as the bee-carpet occurrence, the “balling” behaviour and/or the abdomen shaking movement [10], [11], [15]–[18], [56]. Neither the behaviour of the invasive population of V. velutina nor the temporal patterns of the prey-predator interaction has been investigated to date.…”