The First Record of Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 in Algeria and Biocontrol Implications

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2, 243 - 244, 18.12.2025

Salama Semmar

https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1794133

Öz

This study reports the first record of the Asian hornet, Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Algeria. A single adult was collected in a garden in Birkhadem (36°43′30″N, 03°02′41″E; 140 m a.s.l.) in September 16, 2025. Identification was based on the morphological characteristics including a uniformly black mesosoma, an orange fourth abdominal tergite, and dark legs with yellow distal parts. The detection of V. velutina in northern Algeria extends the known distribution of this invasive species in North Africa. Considering its predatory behavior toward honeybees and its potential impact on ollinators, this finding highlights the need for early bio-surveillance, risk assessment, and the development of environmentally safe biocontrol strategies to prevent its establishment and spread

Anahtar Kelimeler

Asian hornet , yellow-legged hornet , Invasive species , Africa , biosurveillance

Etik Beyan

Ethics committee approval is not required for this study.

Cezayir’de Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836’nın İlk Kaydı ve Biyolojik Mücadeleye Yönelik Çıkarımları

Öz

Bu çalışmada, Asya eşekarısı Vespa velutina Lepeletier 1836’nın (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Cezayir’in kuzeyinde ilk kez kaydedildiği bildirilmektedir. Tek bir ergin birey, 16 Eylül 2025’te Birkhadem’deki bir bahçede (36°43′30″K, 3°02′41″D; 140 m rakım) toplanmıştır. Teşhis, morfolojik özelliklere dayanmıştır; mezosomanın bütünüyle siyah olması, dördüncü abdominal tergitin turuncu renkte bulunması ve distal kısımları sarı olan koyu renkli bacaklar. Cezayir’in kuzeyinde V. velutina’nın saptanması, bu istilacı türün Kuzey Afrika’daki bilinen dağılımını genişletmektedir. Bal arılarına yönelik yırtıcı davranışı ve tozlayıcılar üzerindeki olası etkileri göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, bu bulgu erken biyoizleme, risk değerlendirmesi ve türün yerleşmesi ile yayılışını önlemek amacıyla çevre açısından güvenli biyolojik mücadele stratejilerinin geliştirilmesi gereğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Asya eşekarısı , sarı bacaklı eşekarısı , İstilacı tür , Afrika , biyoizleme

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma için etik kurul onayına gerek yoktur.

Kaynakça

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