Emerging Risk of Cross-Species Transmission of Honey Bee Viruses in the Presence of Invasive Vespid Species

The increase in invasive alien species is a concern for the environment. The establishment of some of these species may be changing the balance between pathogenicity and host factors, which could alter the defense strategies of native host species. Vespid species are among the most successful invasi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: María Shantal Rodríguez-Flores, Maurizio Mazzei, Antonio Felicioli, Ana Diéguez-Antón, María Carmen Seijo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/1/6
Description
Summary:The increase in invasive alien species is a concern for the environment. The establishment of some of these species may be changing the balance between pathogenicity and host factors, which could alter the defense strategies of native host species. Vespid species are among the most successful invasive animals, such as the genera <i>Vespa</i>, <i>Vespula</i> and <i>Polistes</i>. Bee viruses have been extensively studied as an important cause of honey bee population losses. However, knowledge about the transmission of honey bee viruses in Vespids is a relevant and under-researched aspect. The role of some mites such as <i>Varroa</i> in the transmission of honey bee viruses is clearer than in the case of Vespidae. This type of transmission by vectors has not yet been clarified in Vespidae, with interspecific relationships being the main hypotheses accepted for the transmission of bee viruses. A majority of studies describe the presence of viruses or their replicability, but aspects such as the symptomatology in Vespids or the ability to infect other hosts from Vespids are scarcely discussed. Highlighting the case of <i>Vespa velutina</i> as an invader, which is causing huge losses in European beekeeping, is of special interest. The pressure caused by <i>V. velutina</i> leads to weakened hives that become susceptible to pathogens. Gathering this information is necessary to promote further research on the spread of bee viruses in ecosystems invaded by invasive species of Vespids, as well as to prevent the decline of bee populations due to bee viruses.
ISSN:2075-4450