The Asian Hornet, which is now prevalent over much of continental Europe, was first documented in Ireland in 2021. Recent research determined, using mitochondrial DNA markers, that the Irish specimen was a continuation of the continuing European invasion, rather than a fresh arrival from within the insect's natural range.
According to the study, titled "The First Recorded Occurrence of the Asian Hornet (Vespa velutina) In Ireland, Genetic Evidence for a Continued Single Invasion Across Europe" published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, all Asian hornets in Europe are likely derived from a single queen imported to France in 2004.
Genetic Analysis Reveals Origin of Asian Hornet Invasion in Europe
Asian hornets, also called 'murder hornets,' made their debut appearance in Europe nearly 20 years ago and eventually spread throughout the continent. Genetic analyses revealed the rapid and widespread infestation of these bees across Europe, Science Alert reported.
University College Cork ecologist Simon Harrison said that their study also showed the remarkable potential for population expansion of eusocial insects despite starting with low genetic diversity.
The team analyzed three genes from the first recorded arrival of the Asian hornet in Ireland in April 2021 and compared them to the genetic sequence of wasps found across mainland Europe. They found that all genes were mitochondrial genes passed on from the female line.
Earlier work has shown that Asian hornets in Europe shared the same genetic lineage based on studies on a single gene. University College Cork zoologist Eileen Dillane said that they just took it further and looked at two additional genes to detect variation within the population of this invasive species.
They found that the maternal wasp line in Dublin was the same across all of Europe. The team wrote in their paper that the entire population of V. velutina in Europe is descended from one queen bee that arrived on the continent from China some 15 to 20 years ago.
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About Asian Hornets
The Asian hornet is an invasive species not only in the UK but also in the whole of continental Europe. European honeybees lack defensive behaviors, which makes them an easy target for the hornets and leads to concerns about pollination across the continent.
But in their native land in Southeast Asia, they prey on Asian honeybees that developed a complex warning and defense system that lets them mob an attacking wasp, overheating it to death.
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the concern around Asian hornets is that they consume honeybees in large numbers. In France, they attack the well-known European honeybee and other bee species. Nature conservation organizations are concerned about the hornets' impacts on bees which serve as an essential component of well-functioning ecosystems.
It is undoubtedly an invasive species in Europe and it has been detected in the UK on at least three occasions as of January 2018. But authorities swiftly eradicated them.
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