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

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
Chang-Jun Kim ◽  
Moon Bo Choi
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Control Effect ◽  
Vespa Velutina ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
Vespa Crabro ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Sudden Decrease

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.

Evaluation of competition between a native and an invasive hornet species: do seasonal phenologies overlap?

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Monceau ◽  
N. Maher ◽  
O. Bonnard ◽  
D. Thiéry
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Exclusion Principle ◽  
Annual Life Cycle ◽  
Vespa Velutina ◽  
Competitive Exclusion Principle ◽  
Vespa Crabro

AbstractOne common dogma in ecology is based on the competitive exclusion principle. Hence, competition is often considered to be one of the primary determinants of the structure and functioning of ecosystems. In this paper, we investigate how the native Vespa crabro and the recently introduced Vespa velutina show some degree of niche differentiation that potentially minimizes their interspecific competition, the two dimensions investigated here being seasonal activity patterns and preferences for food. These two species share common characteristics: they are closely related, live in the same areas, belong to the same guild (predators), exploit the same kind of food sources, and exhibit a similar annual life cycle. Considering all these similarities, interspecific competition may occur if the two species exhibit identical seasonal phenologies. Our data show that their seasonal phenologies overlap to some extent probably due to biological constraints common to Vespinae. The shifts in time observed here allow the hornet species to not directly compete for food sources at the same time. It does not however exclude indirect competition, especially in a ‘first-come, first-served’ fashion.

scholarly journals Introduction and Spread of the Invasive Alien Species Ageratina altissima in a Disturbed Forest Ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6152
Author(s):  
Eunyoung Kim ◽  
Jaeyong Choi ◽  
Wonkyong Song
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Canopy Area

Invasive alien species (IAS) not only displace nearby indigenous plants and lead to habitat simplification but also cause severe economic damage by invading arable lands. IAS invasion processes involve external forces such as species characteristics, IAS assemblage traits, environmental conditions, and inter-species interactions. In this study, we analyzed the invasion processes associated with the introduction and spread of Ageratina altissima, a representative invasive plant species in South Korea. We investigated 197 vegetation quadrats (2 × 20 m) in regions bordering 47 forests in southern Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. A total of 23 environmental variables were considered, which encompassed vegetation, topography, land use, and landscape ecology indices. The model was divided into an edge and an interior model and analyzed using logistic regression and a decision tree (DT) model. The occurrence of Ageratina altissima was confirmed in 61 sites out of a total of 197. According to our analysis, Ageratina altissima easily invaded forest edges with low density. The likelihood of its occurrence increased with lower elevation and gentler slope. In contrast, the spread of Ageratina altissima in the forest interior, especially based on seed spread and permeability, was favored by a lower elevation and gentler slopes. The analysis of Ageratina altissima settlement processes in forest edges coupled with the DT model demonstrated that land characteristics, such as the proximity to urbanized areas and the number of shrub and tree species, play a pivotal role in IAS settlement. In the forest interior, Ageratina altissima did not occur in 68 of the 71 sites where the soil drainage was under 2.5%, and it was confirmed that the tree canopy area had a significant impact on forest spread. Based on these results, it can be assumed that Ageratina altissima has spread in South Korean forests in much the same way as other naturalized species. Therefore, vegetation management strategies for naturalized species should be developed in parallel with land use management policy in regions surrounding forest edges to successfully manage and control Ageratina altissima invasion.

scholarly journals Invasive Lantana camara L. Shrub in Ethiopia: Ecology, Threat, and Suggested Management Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firew Bekele Abebe
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Lantana Camara ◽  
Dire Dawa ◽  
Dispersal Agents ◽  
Agricultural Loss

Lantana camara L. is one of the worst invasive alien species that are categorized worldwide. The objective of this review paper was to review the dispersal and threats posed by Lantana camara L. in Ethiopia and based on review results, to suggest management strategies that can bring solutions to the threats posed by the weed. Both biological characteristics of Lantana camara L. and its dispersal agents have contributed to the success of its dispersal. Even though Lantana camara L. is dispersed in other places within Ethiopia, Debrezeit, Dire Dawa, Harar and Somali are the hotspot areas for the weed. Biodiversity and potential agricultural loss, human and animal health problems and infestation in national parks are the identified threats that Lantana camara L. posed within the country. Utilization of Lantana camara L. for various purposes, prevention of its further dispersal into non-infected areas, use of fire, mechanical and biological control and awareness creation are the suggested management strategies that can bring solutions to the threats posed by the weed within the country.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Biotechnology on Biodiversity in Global Health: A Case Study on Avian Influenza in Bangladesh

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Muhiuddin Haider ◽  
Milind Patel ◽  
Priyanka Bhattacharjee ◽  
Maariya Bassa
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Specific Region ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Animal Biotechnology ◽  
Living Organisms

Biodiversity is the variability of between genetics, species, or ecosystems of living organisms within a specific region. Biodiversity is essential for sustaining healthy living networks and systems because it allows for a variety of food sources, medicine, and biological control, while also playing a significant role in atmospheric regulation, nutrient cycling, and pollination. Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem change increases the risk of the emergence or spreading of infectious diseases and global pandemics such as the Avian Influenza (AI H5N1). Biotechnology is one solution for reducing, and ultimately eliminating, the transmission of avian influenza. Traditional methods of treating infected animals, such as common vaccines, are temporary solutions that have no effect on the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Methods in animal biotechnology such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and <em>in vitro </em>fertilization have led to developments of cheaper, safer, and more effective vaccines. Livestock that have been treated for H5N1, as well as those that are healthy and have never been infected have proven to increase the diversity, leading to the elimination of specific issues. Similar effects are attainable if these animal biotechnology methods were to be used on poultry infected with the avian influenza virus.

scholarly journals Detection and Replication of Moku Virus in Honey Bees and Social Wasps

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 607
Author(s):  
Andrea Highfield ◽  
Jessica Kevill ◽  
Gideon Mordecai ◽  
Jade Hunt ◽  
Summer Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Vespa Velutina ◽  
Vespa Crabro ◽  
Vespula Vulgaris ◽  
Virus Transfer ◽  
Ecological Importance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Vespula Pensylvanica

Transmission of honey bee viruses to other insects, and vice versa, has previously been reported and the true ecological importance of this phenomenon is still being realized. Members of the family Vespidae interact with honey bees via predation or through the robbing of brood or honey from colonies, and these activities could result in virus transfer. In this study we screened Vespa velutina and Vespa crabro collected from Europe and China and also honey bees and Vespula vulgaris from the UK for Moku virus (MV), an Iflavirus first discovered in the predatory social wasp Vespula pensylvanica in Hawaii. MV was found in 71% of Vespula vulgaris screened and was also detected in UK Vespa crabro. Only seven percent of Vespa velutina individuals screened were MV-positive and these were exclusively samples from Jersey. Of 69 honey bee colonies screened, 43% tested positive for MV. MV replication was confirmed in Apis mellifera and Vespidae species, being most frequently detected in Vespula vulgaris. MV sequences from the UK were most similar to MV from Vespula pensylvanica compared to MV from Vespa velutina in Belgium. The implications of the transfer of viruses between the Vespidae and honey bees are discussed.

Supplemental food affects thrips predation and movement of Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Skirvin ◽  
L. Kravar-Garde ◽  
K. Reynolds ◽  
J. Jones ◽  
A. Mead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Trichoderma Viride ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Neoseiulus Cucumeris ◽  
Orius Laevigatus ◽  
Supplemental Food ◽  
Species Movement ◽  
Predation Rates

AbstractTwo experiments were done to examine the predation of thrips, and the movement of Orius laevigatus Fieber and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) in the presence and absence of two supplemental food sources, pollen and the fungus Trichoderma viride. The presence of pollen led to a 55% reduction in predation of the thrips by N. cucumeris and a 40% reduction in thrips predation by O. laevigatus, in experiments using single predators. The presence of fungus had no significant effect on thrips predation by either of the natural enemy species. Movement of the natural enemies was examined in a multiple predator experiment, and this showed that O. laevigatus was more likely to remain on the plant in the presence of thrips and when supplemental food, either pollen or fungus, was present. For N. cucumeris, there was no association between the presence of thrips and the mite, with the majority of the mites being found on the leaves where pollen was present. Although the single and multiple predator experiments were done at different times, the indications are that the predation rates of the N. cucumeris do not differ greatly between the two experiments, suggesting that there may be a potential interference effect between the mites, which is not present for O. laevigatus. The significance of these results for the use of supplemental food sources in biological control is discussed.

scholarly journals Biological and Application-Oriented Factors Influencing Plant Disease Suppression by Biological Control: A Meta-Analytical Review

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (11) ◽  
pp. 1168-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Ojiambo ◽  
H. Scherm
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Plant Disease ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Disease Suppression ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Control Effect ◽  
Soilborne Diseases

Studies to evaluate the effectiveness of biological control in suppressing plant disease often report inconsistent results, highlighting the need to identify general factors that influence the success or failure of biological control in plant pathology. We conducted a quantitative synthesis of previously published research by applying meta-analysis to determine the overall effectiveness of biocontrol in relation to biological and application-oriented factors. For each of 149 entries (antagonist-disease combinations) from 53 reports published in Biological & Cultural Tests between 2000 and 2005, an effect size was calculated as the difference in disease intensity expressed in standard deviation units between the biocontrol treatment and its corresponding untreated control. Effect sizes ranged from -1.15 (i.e., disease strongly enhanced by application of the biocontrol agent) to 4.83 (strong disease suppression by the antagonist) with an overall weighted mean of 0.62, indicating moderate effectiveness on average. There were no significant (P >0.05) differences in effect sizes between entries from studies carried out in the greenhouse versus the field, between those involving soilborne versus aerial diseases, or among those carried out in conditions of low, medium, or high disease pressure (expressed relative to the disease intensity in the untreated control). However, effect sizes were greater on annual than on perennial crops, regardless of whether the analysis was carried out for all entries (P = 0.0268) or for those involving only soilborne diseases (P = 0.0343). Effect sizes were not significantly different for entries utilizing fungal versus bacterial biocontrol agents or for those targeting fungal versus bacterial pathogens. However, entries that used r-selected biological control agents (i.e., those having short generation times and producing large numbers of short-lived offspring) were more effective than those that applied antagonists that were not r-selected (P = 0.0312). Interestingly, effect sizes for entries that used Bacillus spp. as biological control agents were lower than for those that applied other antagonists (P = 0.0046 for all entries and P = 0.0114 for soilborne diseases). When only aerial diseases were considered, mean effect size was greater for entries that received one or two sprays than for those that received more than eight sprays of the biocontrol agent (P = 0.0002). This counterintuitive result may indicate that investigators often attempt unsuccessfully to compensate for anticipated poor performance in antagonist-disease combinations by making more applications.

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