Asian Giant Apex-Predator of the World

Paul van Westendorp Provincial Apiculturist British Columbia

[email protected] www.gov.bc.ca/apiculture www.gov.bc.ca/foodforbees

Asian

“Asian Hornets”- Vespa genus (approx. 25 spp):

– - V. mandarinia (ground nester)

– Asian Hornet - V. soror (ground nester) – Asian Predatory - V. velutina (~Europe & UK) – Black-Bellied Hornet - V. basalis (Taiwan) – Black Tailed Hornet - V. ducalis – Greater Banded Hornet - V. tropica – Japanese Hornet - V. simillima – Oriental Hornet - V. orientalis – - V. crabro (~Europe) Background

• Nanaimo beekeeper collected 2 specimens – Aug. 17

• UBC: Vespa mandarinia confirmed.

• Five additional sightings in subsequent weeks => All within 1 km radius.

• Appeal to Nanaimo beekeepers to assist in search.

• found and eradicated – September 18. Favored Nesting Habitat

Background

• Nest eradication;

– Dusk; no flight

– CO2, alcohol

• 200+ workers + Queen

• Drones confirmed, no virgin Qs. Annual Life Cycle

• Wintered queen start nest on her own in spring.

• Offspring; workers (sterile female) until end of summer.

• Food: tree saps, and insect prey

• Late summer/fall: ready to raise sex maturing offspring – need of large quantity of protein => raiding of honeybee • Virgin queens and drones emerge. – Mating. Drones die. – Mated queens leave nest and seek “hibernaculum”.

November / December 2019

• White Rock:

– Single specimen, Nov. 13

– No nest.

– Urban setting. City alerted • Blaine:

– Two specimens, Dec. 08

– No nest.

– DNA sequencing Trap Distribution 2020

Sightings 2020 Why the Worry?

• Apex predator; largest species of Asian Hornets • Serious predator of honeybees • Ready adaptation to coastal BC expected. • Prime concerns: Public health, Impact on Honeybees and Local Ecosystems • => 30-50 human fatalities in Japan each year. • => All cases involve nest disturbance. • Repeated stings, large volume of venom. • Venom; cytolytic peptide; tissue necrosis & bleeding.

Surveillance 2021

• Participants – Public – Registered Beekeepers – Residents W. Rock – A’grove – Municipalities – Regional Invasive Sp. Councils – Semiahmoo FN • Trapping & Ground Survey – Step-up program July-August – Field Crew • Eradication – API staff Additional Collaborators

• Local Beekeepers Clubs • Invasive Species Council BC • Min of Environment • CFIA • FLNR • Min of Health • UBC + Vespa specialists • Local government(s) /public

Other Sightings Vancouver Harbour, May 2019

• May 2019; Single specimen, Vancouver harbour => UBC

• Initially; V. ducalis

• Reclassified: V. soror

– Specimen; queen

– Sister species of V. mandarinia

– Similar distribution, behavior

– Adaptable to BC conditions • Future Introductions? Vespa velutina

• Smaller than AGH

• Intro. 2004

• Nest above ground

– Top tree canopy

• Nest side entrance

Vespa velutina

• Large Nests: 1–3,000

• Serious honeybee predator – Flight interception • Rapid, Ongoing Spread; – Spain – 2010 – Portugal - 2011 – - 2012 – UK - 2016 – – 2017 – Germany - 2019 • EU: >€20 mil. Similar

Similar Insects Similar Insects

Pollinators - hairy Surveillance 2021 “Keep on Looking and Report”

– Report unusual activity @ apiary – Photographic / Physical evidence – https://bcinvasives.ca/report – [email protected] – http://www2.gov.bc.ca/invasive-species