A scientific note about an endoparasitoid that could help limit the spread of the honeybee killer Vespa velutina nigrithorax in Europe
Résumé
The yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, was accidentally introduced from China to southwestern France in 2004 (Haxaire et al. 2006). The species is currently colonizing France and neighboring countries (Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Italy) (Darrouzet and Gévar 2012; Monceau et al. 2013). V. velutina is a pest in France because it preys upon domestic honeybees, Apis mellifera. Beekeeping operations are directly affected by this predation, with some beekeepers reporting colony losses (Darrouzet and Gévar 2012; Monceau et al. 2013).