| Title: | Hornets and Honey Bees: A Coevolutionary Arms Race between Ancient Adaptations and New Invasive Threats |
| Author(s): | Cappa F; Cini A; Bortolotti L; Poidatz J; Cervo R; |
| Address: | "Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy. Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella n. 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy. Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn Campus, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2075-4450 (Print) 2075-4450 (Electronic) 2075-4450 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Hornets and honey bees have a long history of coevolution resulting in a plethora of captivating adaptations and counteradaptations between predator and prey. From simple physiological mechanisms to complex behavioral strategies, some Vespa hornets have specialized in hunting honey bees, while the latter have put in place effective defenses to counteract their attack. Both hornets and honey bees have evolved the ability to detect the odors and the pheromones emitted by the other to locate the prey or to spot foraging predators. Hornets often rely on their bigger size, heavily armored body and destructive attacks, while honey bees differentiated collective defense responses finely coordinated to deter or kill the hornet menace. However, when new species of hornets and honey bees come into contact, the absence of coevolution can have a heavy impact on the defenseless bees. The evolutionary arms race between hornets and honey bees provides not only compelling examples of adaptations and counteradaptations between predator and prey, but could also represent a starting point for the development of effective and sustainable strategies to protect honey bees and beekeeping activities and to control invasive alien species of hornets" |
| Keywords: | Apis Asian hornets Vespa alien invasive species coevolution; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINECappa, Federico Cini, Alessandro Bortolotti, Laura Poidatz, Juliette Cervo, Rita eng Review Switzerland 2021/11/26 Insects. 2021 Nov 18; 12(11):1037. doi: 10.3390/insects12111037" |
