First detection of Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean): a challenging study case
LEZA, Mar - Personal Name
MIRANDA, Miguel Angel - Personal Name
COLOMAR, VIctor - Personal Name
The yellow-legged hornet,
Vespa velutina
nigrithorax
is an Invasive Alien Species introduced
into Europe in 2004, and is currently present in France,
Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Belgium. It was
also recently introduced in the United Kingdom and
Switzerland. Here we present the first detection of
V.
velutina
in the westernmost Mediterranean islands
(Majorca, Balearic archipelago). In October 2015, a
specimen of hornet, which was later identified as
V.
velutina
, was sent to the laboratory of Zoology at the
University of the Balearic Islands by a beekeeper from
the locality of So
́
ller (northwest of Majorca). After the
identification, and in coordination with the local
authorities, an intensive survey was implemented in
the area of first detection using sticky traps baited with
protein and nest detection by directly observing the
flight route of adult hornets from two or three feeding
points. The first nest was detected on 30th October
2015 and was entirely removed. The next year, nine
other nests were located from August to November
2016 in the same area and again, all of them were emoved entirely. It is the first report on an island of
destroying nests as a means of controlling the spread, a
scenario very different to mainland Europe. All nests
were detected in evergreen tree species (pines, holm
oaks, and common cypress) in the ‘‘Serra de Tra-
muntana’’, a mountain range located in the north-west
of the island of Majorca (3667 km
2
), which is situated
176 km off the mainland. Considering the presumably
early stage of the invasion of
V. velutina
in Majorca,
the size of the island, and the confinement of the
detection area, we consider that this species could be
eradicated if resources and a specific program for
eradication in Majorca are implemented in coordina-
tion with all involved partners
Vespa velutina
nigrithorax
is an Invasive Alien Species introduced
into Europe in 2004, and is currently present in France,
Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Belgium. It was
also recently introduced in the United Kingdom and
Switzerland. Here we present the first detection of
V.
velutina
in the westernmost Mediterranean islands
(Majorca, Balearic archipelago). In October 2015, a
specimen of hornet, which was later identified as
V.
velutina
, was sent to the laboratory of Zoology at the
University of the Balearic Islands by a beekeeper from
the locality of So
́
ller (northwest of Majorca). After the
identification, and in coordination with the local
authorities, an intensive survey was implemented in
the area of first detection using sticky traps baited with
protein and nest detection by directly observing the
flight route of adult hornets from two or three feeding
points. The first nest was detected on 30th October
2015 and was entirely removed. The next year, nine
other nests were located from August to November
2016 in the same area and again, all of them were emoved entirely. It is the first report on an island of
destroying nests as a means of controlling the spread, a
scenario very different to mainland Europe. All nests
were detected in evergreen tree species (pines, holm
oaks, and common cypress) in the ‘‘Serra de Tra-
muntana’’, a mountain range located in the north-west
of the island of Majorca (3667 km
2
), which is situated
176 km off the mainland. Considering the presumably
early stage of the invasion of
V. velutina
in Majorca,
the size of the island, and the confinement of the
detection area, we consider that this species could be
eradicated if resources and a specific program for
eradication in Majorca are implemented in coordina-
tion with all involved partners
Availability
| EB00000004210K | Available | ||
| EB00000004212K | Available |
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