Asian hornets eating hundreds of different insects in ‘threat' to UK wildlife
Asian hornets are eating hundreds of different insect species in a possible threat to UK wildlife.
Conservationists have warned that there could be threats to pollinators from a resurgence in the invasive species despite its spread being halted in Britain.
New research looking at the guts of more than 1,500 larvae raises new concerns over the 'extra threat' the hornet poses to native insects already under pressure from farming, changes in land use and chemical pollution.
The study also highlights the potential impact on agriculture, with 43 of the 50 most commonly identified species in the hornet larvae's diet known to visit flowers – including Europe's three main crop pollinators.
The Asian hornet or yellow-legged hornet, is a voracious invasive species native to South East Asia. It arrived in France in a cargo of pottery from China about 20 years ago and spread rapidly across the continent.
Its main prey is honeybees, and it can kill 50 bees a day, devastating colonies in France and Italy.
It was first seen in the UK in 2016, and there have been regular sightings since, including 44 confirmed in 2024 – largely in Kent and East Sussex, although a rapid response approach to destroy hornets and nests has stopped its spread in Britain.
The researchers from the University of Exeter carried out genetic analysis using a method called 'deep sequencing' to identify prey species in the guts of more than 1,500 hornet larvae from 103 nests in Jersey, France, Spain, and the UK.
They identified 1,449 different prey which had been fed by adult hornets to their larvae in the nests, more than half of which (55 per cent) could be identified as a specific species.
Prey included a wide range of flies, bees, butterflies, moths and spiders, with honeybees, common wasps and blow flies most commonly found.
While the hornets prefer honeybees, which were found in all nests and almost all samples, a wide range of other species were also recorded, showing they are 'opportunistic' and prey on any creatures that are abundant in the areas near their nests.
Europe's top three crop pollinators – the honeybee, buff-tailed bumblebee and the red-tailed bumblebee – were all found among the top 50 prey species identified.
The study's lead author Siffreya Pedersen said: 'Asian hornets are known to prey on honey bees, but until now the full range of their diet hasn't been tested.
'The diet varied strongly over the seasons and between regions, showing that they are highly flexible predators.
And she said: 'Insects play vital roles in enabling ecosystems to function – including pollination, decomposition and pest control.
'Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution.'
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USA Today
16 hours ago
- USA Today
Stinging and 'wicked' Asian needle ants are spreading across the US
Stinging and 'wicked' Asian needle ants are spreading across the US Asian needle ants have been linked to multiple cases of life-threatening reactions and the mysterious ants keep spreading. Show Caption Hide Caption See Nat Geo's photo challenge winners National Geographic wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory announced the winners of a photo challenge celebrating the Earth's beauty. An invasive species of stinging, carnivorous ants have been slowly spreading in about 20 states. Last year at least three cases of life-threatening anaphylactic reactions were reported in Georgia, making this little (and little-known) insect a growing problem. "Asian needle ants" will reach their yearly peak numbers in July and August, but it will still be tough to spot them, even if you get stung by one. They are so small and blend in so well that stings often occur when someone — perhaps while gardening or moving wood – unknowingly disturbs them. "Imagine somebody inserting a needle directly into your flesh," said Benoit Guénard, a professor of ecology and entomology at the University of Hong Kong who studied the ants in North Carolina. "It's a very sharp, acute pain but it's quite local." Tracking them has long been a challenge, but researchers now say the spread of the Asian needle ant shouldn't be ignored. "They're pretty widespread on the East coast," said. Daniel Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia. "If you live in an area which is dominated by hardwood trees, there's a good chance there are Asian needle ants underfoot." For some, the stings can be life-threatening. For others, it's an unusual pain that can come and go for hours. That's just one of the mysteries of Brachyponera chinensis — roughly translated as "short, wicked ant from China" - though they're actually native to China, Japan and the Koreas. Hard to track, hard to kill The invasive insect was first discovered in the United states in 1932 in Decatur, Georgia, but was only recognized as a serious pest in the past two decades as it began to spread significantly throughout the southeast. Now it's found as far north as Connecticut and as far south as Florida, as well as in Wisconsin and Washington state, according to the site There are reports they have also appeared in Texas. These ants are carnivorous, seeking out prey such as flies, beetles, grasshoppers and their favorites: termites. Given their hunting habits, they don't lay down scent trails as some ants do, making it difficult to track them back to their colonies and eradicate. "Most ants are in-your-face invasive, they lay a pheromone trail to get to food. You can't miss an ant trail that's half an inch wide," said Suiter. "These remain hidden." The dark brown ants live in colonies in leaf litter, rotted logs, firewood and mulch. They often occur in residential settings, including parks, and urban areas, finding homes and under railroad ties, logs, bricks, and pavers. They can also nest in potted plants, under wood piles, and in lawns. "People are most often stung when they're working in their garden," said Theresa Dellinger, a diagnostician at the insect identification lab at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. "Nobody likes to be putting in their bedding plants and then suddenly have unexpected pain." The worker ants' bodies are about 0.2 inches long, small, dark and shiny but with lighter orange legs and antennae. "They have a long jaw and a big stinger on the business end," Dellinger said. Although they're relatively long and thin, the "needle" in their name actually comes from their Japanese name, Oo-hari-ari, which means "giant needle ant' and refers to size of their stinger, she said. It's very possible to learn to live with Asian needle ants, just as we've learned to live with bees, said Andrew Johnston, an insect diagnostician at Purdue University's Department of Entomology. "They're not aggressive, they don't swarm the way fire ants do," he said. "Wear gloves and pay attention to what you're grabbing." Because the ants like to live in moist areas and around wood, keeping loose logs and firewood up off the ground so they stay dry is one way to avoid infestations, said Suiter. And if you're sensitive to insect stings, suggests Dellinger, "carry an EpiPen." A painful, long-lasting sting Guénard has been stung by many different ant and insect species but said Asian needle ants are the only ones he knows of where the pain is very acute at first, then disappears and then can come back over and over again. "The first, initial pain lasted a few seconds. Then about five minutes later, when the pain had eased, I felt 'ouch!' as if somebody had stung me again in the same place. The pain continues to reoccur in the same place, it disappears and then comes back," said Guénard. "For me, it goes on for about two hours," he said. "But I know in some people it lasts for as much as 24 to 48 hours." In a small number of cases it can also be deadly. The sting can cause allergic reactions and in 1% of victims, the venom can result in deadly anaphylactic shock. Decades of mystery There's a lot researchers don't yet understand about why these invasive ants only began to significantly spread in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. Native to China, Japan and Korea, the Asian needle ant was first identified in Georgia in 1932 but probably arrived here well before that. "It's very likely the ants were introduced in the early 20th century because by 1934 they were already found in three states, so clearly they hadn't just arrived," Guénard said. Because they live in dirt and mulch, Guénard speculates that they might have come into the United States in the root balls of trees being imported from Asia. What puzzles researchers is the timing of their spread. The ants remained relatively localized well into the 1970s, research shows. In 1962 a very thorough inventory of the ants of North Carolina was conducted by entomologist W. G. Carter. "He never found them," said Guénard. Then between 1991 and 2017, Asian needle ants spread across North Carolina and are now found across the state. "Something happened," Guénard said. "I could not tell you exactly what." The spread of this invasive species is causing ecological damage as they spread, research shows. Because they are predators, Asian needle ants hunt native insects that have evolved to have important roles in local ecosystems. For example, while no one wants termites in their home, in the forest they are critical part in the health of the woods. "They're very important because they help with the decomposition of dead wood and other organic matter," Guénard said. Research has also shown that local native ants are an important part of seed dispersal for some plant and tree species. If the Asian needle ants take over their territory, the seeds don't get spread. "The seeds just die rather than being dispersed," he said. As the climate warms and becomes wetter in some areas, the extent of where these ants can thrive is growing and they're expected to invade new regions. The amount of North America that could become suitable is expected to increase as much as 75% over the next 50 or so years, according to Guénard's previous research. How dangerous are Asian needle ants? Asian needle ants aren't as aggressive as fire ants and will mostly just run away when they encounter humans. However, they will defensively sting if they feel pressure, for example from someone reaching into a pile of wood, mulch or soil near their nest. The ants can pose a health risk because their venom can produce allergic reactions in some individuals. Virginia Tech encourages anyone who is allergic to bee stings to seek immediate medical attention if they begin to experience breathing problems or other allergic reactions after being stung by an Asian needle ant. A survey of people who live in an ant-habitat area of Korea found that 2.1% of those bitten experienced systemic allergic reactions, including 1.2% who went into anaphylaxis. The danger appeared to be highest in people who had experienced repeated stings over time. There is no national repository of Asian needle ant health problems, but when Guénard maintained a website about the insects while he was conducting research in North Carolina, he received reports of 21 cases of health problems, in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington. D. C. Of those case, at least 12 individuals reported having severe allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock. The cases involved people moving logs, gardening and even while swimming, when young female ants flying to establish new colonies fell into swimming pools. The stinging events were especially frequent during the summer swarming period from April to September, with a peak in May to July. In Georgia, Suiter got three calls about cases of anaphylactic shock after Asian needle ant stings last year. "I fully expect that some people who end up in the emergency room were stung by them but didn't realize it," he said. There is concern that people who are hypersensitive to other stinging insects may be at an increased risk of anaphylaxis from Asian needle ants. Symptoms reported by the USDA can include: Skin reactions include hives, itching, and flushed or pale skin. Low blood pressure (hypotension). Constriction of the airway, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Swollen tongue or throat. Weak and rapid pulse. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Dizziness or fainting. Psychological symptoms, such as a feeling of impending doom. Unlike stings from invasive fire ants, the sting of an Asian needle ant does not produce a blister. What can you do about Asian needle ants This particular variety of ant is more difficult to eradicate than other ant species because they don't lay pheromone trails that can be disrupted or easily used to get the ants to take poison back to their nests. Instead they use a process known as tandem carrying. "One worker ant will pick up another worker ant and drag it over to the food source to show it where it is," Dellinger said. That makes baiting them difficult, especially because their colonies – typically fairly small and flat – are hard to spot. "We suggest a protein-based bait for this species, and it can take some time for these ants to take the poison back to the colony," she said. So far there is no formalized management recommendation for the species. One study published found good luck with using bait that included extracts from termite skin. Dellinger said broad spraying isn't helpful and will actually harm other important garden species. "Try to treat the nest," she said. Management, rather than eradication, is the goal. That can include removing mulch in areas where the ants might pose a problem, elevating woodpiles so they're not damp underneath, carefully watching for colonies (which can take time) and only baiting areas where there are definitely ants. It's also not easy to identify the Asian needle ants as they look similar to other ant species. "There are a lot of ants out there," Dellinger said. "We get out the microscope." She recommended contacting the local agricultural extension if identification isn't certain. "It's a free service and they can help identify what's on your property."
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
The great poaching: America's brain drain begins
The Trump administration's spending cuts and restrictions on foreign students are triggering a brain drain — and American scientists are panicking. Why it matters: U.S. researchers' fears are coming true. America's science pipeline is drying up, and countries like China are seizing the opportunity to surge ahead. 'This is such a race for being the science powerhouse that you never fully recover,' says Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences. 'You might accelerate back up to 60, but you can't make up for those years when you were at a standstill while the competition was racing ahead.' Driving the news: The National Science Foundation, which funds much of America's fundamental science research, is already doling out grants at its slowest pace in 35 years, The New York Times reports. More cuts to science could come with the "big, beautiful bill." Universities are also watching with bated breath as the administration tries to limit the number of foreign students studying in the U.S.. Harvard is pushing back, but could face a total ban on recruiting internationally. The Trump administration says it will " aggressively revoke" visas for Chinese students studying in "critical fields." By the numbers: While American universities are rescinding offers to incoming PhD students, other countries are recruiting heavily from U.S. labs. The journal Nature analyzed data from its jobs platform to track where scientists are looking for work. In the first few months of the Trump administration, there were jumps in the the number of U.S. applicants looking for jobs in Canada (+41%), Europe (+32%), China (+20%) and other Asian countries (+39%), compared to the same period in 2024. U.S. jobs saw fewer applications from candidates in Canada (–13%) and Europe (–41%). Case in point: France's Aix-Marseille University, which made headlines for earmarking millions of dollars for U.S. scientists, closed its application window after receiving a flood of apps. After American Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian's federal grant was frozen, he got an email from China offering 20 years of funding if he relocates his lab, The New York Times' Kate Zernike writes. He declined. 'This is a once-in-a-century brain gain opportunity,' the Australian Strategic Policy Institute wrote in a brief. The other side: The White House argues that its changes to the system will usher in a golden age of science and rebuild public trust. President Trump has also suggested that spots freed up by rejecting international students could be filled by American applicants. But professors say this isn't entirely realistic. "In hard sciences, in astronomy and physics and computer science, for example, there's no way you would fill that hole with local applicants of comparable quality," says Chris Impey, an astronomer at the University of Arizona. What to watch: 'The optimistic part of all of us thinks science is strong enough to outlast one administration, and for a while I thought that, but the hit to young people is at the center of the whole enterprise,' Impey says. 'It's like pulling the rug out from under the whole thing." It's not just brain drain of existing talent, he says. Students who are in high school and college now and thinking about a career in research might reconsider. "There's plenty of things smart kids can do. They don't have to go into science." At the same time, McNutt says she tells students: "If you went into graduate school in the fall of this year, by the time you get your PhD, this madness may be over. You come out with your new PhD ready to fill the gap."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
There's an Invisible Line That Animals Don't Cross. Here's Why.
The animal kingdoms of Asia and Australia are worlds apart, thanks to an invisible line that runs right between the two neighboring continents. Most wildlife never cross this imaginary boundary, not even birds. And so it has been for tens of millions of years, shaping animal evolution in different ways on each side. It all started about 30 million years ago, when the Australian tectonic plate bashed up against the Eurasian tectonic plate and created an archipelago, rerouting ocean currents and creating new regional climates. On one side of the map, in Indonesia and Malaysia, monkeys, apes, elephants, tigers, and rhinos evolved; while on the other side, in New Guinea and Australia, marsupials, monotremes, rodents, and cockatoos flourish. Very few species are abundant on both sides. The curious faunal divide is named Wallace's Line – after the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who first noticed the stark difference in animal life (mostly mammals) while exploring the region in the mid-19th century. "We may consider it established that the Strait of Lombok [between Bali and Lombok] only 15 miles wide [24 kilometers] marks the limit and abruptly separates two of the great zoological regions of the globe," Wallace wrote. The naturalist later went on to independently develop a theory of evolution around the same time as Charles Darwin. The line he drew on a map more than a century ago is still considered a hypothetical evolutionary barrier, although debates continue as to its exact location and mechanisms. Generally speaking, Wallace's line separates a shelf of the Asian continent from a shelf of the Australian tectonic plate. It is a geological line, but it is also a climatic and biological one. Deep ocean channels like the Lombok Strait separate each shelf, which makes it difficult for animals to cross. Even when sea levels in the distant past were much lower than today, this chasm would have still existed. While Wallace's invisible line is most obvious when comparing mammals in Asia and Australia, it also exists for birds, reptiles, and other animals. Even creatures with wings don't typically make the trip across Wallace's line, and in the ocean, some types of fish and microbes show genetic differences on one side of the border compared to the other, indicating very little mixing between populations. Scientists have yet to figure out what invisible barriers are holding these species back. Habitat and climate, however, are probably factors accentuating the evolutionary divide. In 2023, an analysis of more than 20,000 vertebrate species found that Southeast Asian lineages evolved in a relatively tropical ancient environment that allowed them to spread out toward New Guinea on humid island "stepping stones". Wildlife on the Australian continental shelf, meanwhile, evolved in distinctly drier conditions, which dictated a different evolutionary path. This meant that Australian wildlife was at a disadvantage in the tropical islands nearer the equator. The more researchers study the Wallace line, however, the less clear it becomes about where the line should be drawn and how 'porous' the barrier might be – at least to some animals that can swim, float, or fly, like bats, beetles, monitor lizards, or macaques. Wallace's divide isn't an absolute border, but more of a gradient, scientists say. Even still, the blurry line helps us make sense of animal evolution for thousands of species. "Darwin's and Wallace's mental and actual maps were the table on which the evolutionary scheme was played out, comparable in importance to the geological time scale," argued science historian Jane Camerini in 1993 for the History of Science Society. What started as a single, roughly placed line, drawn more than a century ago, has now helped shape a bigger and more complicated picture of the natural world and its mysteries. Dehorning Rhinos Cuts Poaching by 78% – Saving Thousands of Animals' Lives Worms Use Their Bodies to Build Towers as a Wild Survival Strategy Elusive LSD Fungus Finally Discovered on Flower
