Vespa orientalis: espansione urbana e controllo

Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, 1771, better known as the oriental hornet, is a species belonging to the genus Vespa. Members of this genus are found in Asia, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Nepal, China (Carpenter et al., 1997; Archer, 1998), South America (Dvorak, 2006), the United States, Canada (Carpenter et al., 1997), and of course Europe (Cetkovic, 2002). In Italy, the genus Vespa is represented not only by V. orientalis but also by Vespa crabro Linnaeus, 1758 (the European hornet) and Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1856 (the Asian hornet). V. orientalis has a diet composed mainly of sugars and proteins, which it obtains from plants and various organic waste. Predation, especially targeting Apis mellifera (the honeybee), is an important method for acquiring food. The colonies are annual: nests are founded in early spring and then “disband” at the end of November or the beginning of December. The new fertilized queens, after overwintering, will found new colonies the following spring. In rural areas, nests are built underground, while in urban environments, they make use of dry, warm, and quiet spaces. Most citizens notice their presence only later in the season, when the nests have reached their full development. To deal with infestations, it is necessary to contact specialized companies equipped to intervene safely. However, it is important to remember that, being a pollinator, V. orientalis should not be eradicated but rather managed through sustainable control methods that protect trophic networks and biodiversity.