What is it about?

Social wasps, or yellowjackets, are listed as amongst the 100 of of the world’s worst invasive species. In countries such as New Zealand their biomass per hectare can exceed that of all the birds and introduced mammals. They are voracious predators and competitively exclude native birds from resources. In this article we review their biodiversity, health and economic effects. These wasps appear to be increasing their range due to both climate change and human movement. We describe the exisiting approaches to wasp management including biological control, using other microbial diseases or insects as predators or parasites. We also discuss how new approaches may offer opportunities to control or even eradicate wasps from areas of their invaded range. Advances in genetic modification including gene drives might offer the potential to rid countries such as New Zealand of these wasps, while ensuring that native populations in Europe are maintained.

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Why is it important?

Wasps or yellowjackets are a substantial biodiversity, human health and economic threat. They are an example of an invasive species that have substantially benefited by human movement. Climate change and continuing human movement will likely benefit these wasps. How should we manage these populations? Whatever we do has risks and potential benefits. We highlight how new approaches that include gene drives might well be a viable and safe solution to such invasive species. This research forms part The New Zealand National Science Challenege - Biological Heritage programme for Novel Pest Contol Technologies at http://www.biologicalheritage.nz/programmes/risks/pest-control

Perspectives

Social wasps in the genus Vespula are an example of a major pest, at least in many countries around the world where they have invaded*. Humans have had a long history of “war” on these wasps. Many hate them with a passion. We have burned their nests, poured petrol on that fire, and doused them with nasty chemicals such as DDT. Can we do better? Could we implement new genetic modifications to populations that include blocking the successful production of sperm by males? I think we can manage populations in countries like New Zealand by these methods AND ensure the safety and persistence of these wasps in their native range. These new techniques offer real hope for the management of invasive species. * Note in their home range of England and Europe people (at least some people) have a different perspective on them. See https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45566304

Professor Phil Lester
Victoria University of Wellington

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Invasion Success and Management Strategies for Social Vespula Wasps, Annual Review of Entomology, September 2018, Annual Reviews,
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-011118-111812.
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