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Headline: RAW VIDEO: New Research Discovers 1,400 Species Found In Guts Of Asian Hornets
Caption: A study on Asian hornets has revealed the presence of 1,400 different species in their digestive systems. Researchers from the University of Exeter examined Asian hornet samples collected from France, Spain, Jersey, and the UK throughout their active season. The hornets' diet included a diverse array of insects such as bees, wasps, flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, and spiders. While the European honey bee was the most frequently detected species—found in every sampled nest and nearly all larvae within them—the study confirmed that their diet extends far beyond just honey bees. Asian hornets, an invasive species, have spread across much of western Europe. Authorities in the UK work to control their presence by destroying nests each year. “Asian hornets are known to prey on honey bees, but until now the full range of their diet hasn’t been tested,” said lead author Siffreya Pedersen. “The diet varied strongly over the seasons and between regions, showing that they are highly flexible predators. “Most insect populations are in decline due to factors such as habitat destruction and chemical pollution. The expanding area inhabited by Asian hornets poses an extra threat.” The study employed deep sequencing to analyse the gut contents of over 1,500 Asian hornet larvae, which consume food provided by adult hornets. Among the top 50 identified prey species, 43 are known to visit flowers. These included Europe’s three main crop pollinators: the European honey bee, the buff-tailed bumblebee, and the red-tailed bumblebee. “Insects play vital roles in enabling ecosystems to function – including pollination, decomposition and pest control,” Pedersen noted. “Our study provides important additional evidence of the threat posed by Asian hornets as they spread across Europe,” added Dr. Peter Kennedy from Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute. The researchers identified 1,449 “operational taxonomic units” in the hornet larvae's digestive tracts. While over half were identified as specific species, many remained unidentified, leaving the total number of species uncertain. The research was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the British Beekeepers Association. Samples for the study were provided by the Jersey Asian Hornet Group, INRAe, the University of Vigo, and DEFRA. The findings are published in *Science of the Total Environment* under the title: “Broad ecological threats of an invasive hornet revealed through a deep sequencing approach.”
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PersonInImage: Asian hornet larvae