2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
The invasive hornet Vespa velutina: its ecology and associated issues
| Project/Area Number |
15K07223
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Ecology/Environment
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | 侵略的外来種 / スズメバチ / 有害生物 / 養蜂業 / 害虫防除 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
This study mainly focused on ecology of a newly recorded invasive species, Vespa velutina, and also on issues that the hornet could evoke. The hornet, first recorded from a northernmost part of Tsushima Island, was found to extend its distribution almost over the whole island within 2 years of invasion. The hornet was shown to prefer to prey on honeybees, having an ability to locate the bee hive. Also, the hornet employed multiple predation tactics to hunt honeybees, which allowed it to prey on honeybees very effectively. There was however no evidence that the invasive hornet could negatively affect honeybee populations in the island. The hornet was shown to be a superior predator among Vespa hornets due to its high flight capability but no evidence was found that the hornet negatively affected native hornet community. The website about this invasive species was opened to stress the importance of interrupting the expansion of Vespa velutina into mainland Japan.
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| Free Research Field |
応用昆虫学
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