First record of Hirsutella saussurei in the Galápagos Islands and first evidence parasitizing the invasive paper wasp, Polistes versicolor

Mollá, O.; Shrestha, Bhushan; Sevilla, Christian; Rueda, Danny; Rivas, Fernando; Herrera, Henri W.

doi:10.1590/1806-9665-rbent-2020-0031

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…Microscopic examination of isolated synnemata from this fungus confirmed presence of characters matching those described for hirsutelloid Ophiocordyceps spp. [ 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. The mature synnemata of collected specimens were up to 12 mm long and 0.3–1.2 mm wide, arising from all over the host body at joints and inter-sclerite membranes, especially from between the thoracic and abdominal tergites.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, Ophiocordyceps humbertii is the only hirsutelloid Ophiocordyceps known to infect Vespid wasps [ 77 , 86 ]. It was first described by Speare [ 84 ] as a parasite of Polistes spp., and is frequently reported infecting Polistine and Vespine wasps [ 11 , 75 , 77 , 78 , 87 , 88 ]. This fungi is recorded as an exotic species in New Zealand [ 89 , 90 ], previously known solely from Vespine hosts [ 11 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

Reason

Bulgarella

Lester

2022

Insects

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Two species of entomogenous fungi were discovered infecting the invasive paper wasp Polistes chinensis during an ecological study on Farewell Spit, New Zealand. We sequenced two nuclear ribosomal RDNA genes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the small ribosomal subunit 18S, and one protein-coding gene, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (ef1 α). Combining sequence information with morphological examination, we identified these species as Beauveria malawiensis and Ophiocordyceps humbertii. We estimated that these fungi produce infection in approximately 3.3% of colonies in our study population. In bioassays, we successfully infected P. chinensis individuals from healthy colonies with B. malawiensis, with significant effects on adult mortality. This is the first record of both B. malawiensis and O. humbertii from Polistine hosts in New Zealand, and the first investigation into disease causality by these pathogens in P. chinensis. Our findings may contribute to the future development of biological control agents for paper wasps in New Zealand and elsewhere around the world.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

Reason

Bulgarella

Lester

2022

Insects

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“…The species or prevalence of this pathogen is not known. More recently, the fungus Hirsutella saussurei (Cooke) Speare (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae) was found parasitizing nine yellow paper wasps on Floreana and Santa Cruz islands, Galapagos (Mollá et al 2020). This is the first time this species has been reported in the Galapagos Islands.…”

Section: Impact On Galapagos Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), an Introduced Wasp in the Galapagos Islands: Its Life Cycle and Ecological Impact

Parent

Causton

Roque-Álbelo

et al. 2020

Environmental Entomology

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The yellow paper wasp, Polistes versicolor (Olivier) was first recorded in the Galapagos archipelago in 1988. Its life cycle and ecological impacts were studied on two islands 11 yr after it was first discovered. This invasive wasp adapted quickly and was found in most environments. Colony counts and adult wasp monitoring showed a strong preference for drier habitats. Nest activities were seasonally synchronized, nest building followed the rains in the hot season (typically January–May), when insect prey increases, and peaked as temperature and rains started to decline. Next, the number of adult wasps peaked during the cool season when there is barely any rain in the drier zones. In Galapagos, almost half of the prey loads of P. versicolor were lepidopteran larvae, but wasps also carried spiders, beetles, and flies back to the colonies. An estimated average of 329 mg of fresh insect prey was consumed per day for an average colony of 120–150 wasp larvae. The wasps preyed upon native and introduced insects, but likely also affect insectivorous vertebrates as competitors for food. Wasps may also compete with native pollinators as they regularly visited flowers to collect nectar, and have been recorded visiting at least 93 plant species in Galapagos, including 66 endemic and native plants. Colonies were attacked by a predatory moth, Taygete sphecophila (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Autostichidae), but colony development was not arrested. High wasp numbers also affect the activities of residents and tourists. A management program for this invasive species in the archipelago is essential.

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“…Similarly, Ophiocordyceps humbertii is the only hirsutelloid Ophiocordyceps known to infect Vespid wasps (Araújo & Hughes, 2019;Montalva et al, 2017). It was first described by Speare (1920) as a parasite of Polistes spp., and is frequently reported infecting Polistine and Vespine wasps (Mains, 1951;Mollá et al, 2020;Montalva et al, 2017;Rose et al, 1999;Sobczak & Somavilla, 2020;Somavilla et al, 2020a). This fungi is recorded as an exotic species in New Zealand (NZOR, 2012b;Pennycook & Galloway, 2004), previously known solely from Vespine hosts (Rose et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microscopic examination of isolated synnemata from this fungus confirmed presence of characters matching those described for hirsutelloid Ophiocordyceps spp. (Mains, 1951;Meyer et al, 2007;Mollá et al, 2020;Montalva et al, 2017). The mature synnemata of collected specimens were up to 12 mm long and 0.3 -1.2 mm wide, arising from all over the host body at joints and inter-sclerite membranes, especially from between the thoracic and abdominal tergites.…”

Section: Fungal Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive paper wasp (Polistes chinensis) ecology and invertebrate conservation on Onetahua (Farewell Spit)

Reason¹

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Social insects are among the most ecologically and economically damaging, and abundant invasive species worldwide. Invasive paper wasps in Aotearoa have been shown to cause significant declines in native insect populations though predation, with cascading ecological impacts. No effective control methods for paper wasps are currently available. One such wasp, Polistes chinensis, can become especially abundant in coastal scrub and low-elevation grassland habitats. Together these habitats are estimated to house 60% of Aotearoa’s threatened native Lepidopterans alone. The Onetahua (Farewell Spit) Nature Reserve is a highly protected coastal site encompassing nationally rare habitat types and several at-risk plant and invertebrate species. During a 2019 BioBlitz, paper wasp abundance at this site was noted as likely threatening these diverse invertebrate communities. To inform decision-making on the potential need for local management of these wasps, I aimed to assess their distribution and population dynamics and identify species in their prey community. Over two austral summers, 2020 – 2021 and 2021 – 2022, I surveyed paper wasp colonies on Onetahua and tracked colony survival and development rates. Using wasp larvae gut samples, I conducted a CO1 metabarcoding analysis to identify prey species over a temporal gradient. During data and sample collection, I observed two species of entomopathogenic fungi fatally infecting P. chinensis wasps at their nests. Taking samples of these fungi, I identified each species using morphological and molecular methods, attempted to quantify their prevalence in the studied wasp population, and conducted infection bioassays with caged wasp nests to test fungal pathogenicity. From colony surveying and monitoring, I found that approximately 20% of all spring colonies survived through each summer. Colony development rates indicated that wasp predation pressure likely peaked in February of each year, and I estimated that average colony density in February 2022 was approximately 23 colonies ha-1. The most ubiquitous prey species identified were several endemic cicadas and numerous Lepidopteran species, including common copper butterflies (Lycaena spp.). However, ~60% of unique taxa could not be identified using this barcoding method, likely due to the absence of barcodes for these species in reference libraries. I conclude from this result that metabarcoding analysis is probably not suitable for the identification of many species of conservation significance, as these taxa are likely to be rare, understudied, or undescribed species. A more comprehensive unification of taxonomy and genetic sequencing of invertebrates would be beneficial to improve the useability of such analyses. Fungal pathogens were estimated to have infected wasps in ~3% of all surveyed colonies. I identified the fungal species observed as Beauveria malawiensis and Ophiocordyceps humbertii. In bioassays I successfully infected healthy P. chinensis colonies with B. malawiensis, with significantly increased wasp mortality rates and conidiogenesis in treatment nests. These fungal species may have potential for development as biological control agents for Polistes wasps in Aotearoa and elsewhere around the world. I did not find sufficient evidence to warrant diversion of current conservation resources to high-intensity manual control of P. chinensis on Onetahua. However, I do recommend that repeated monitoring of paper wasp and prey species’ relative abundances be carried out at Onetahua and similar sites. Determination of population trends in these species could be invaluable for future management of Polistes wasps, if and when efficient control methods are eventually developed.

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First record of Hirsutella saussurei in the Galápagos Islands and first evidence parasitizing the invasive paper wasp, Polistes versicolor

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), an Introduced Wasp in the Galapagos Islands: Its Life Cycle and Ecological Impact

Invasive paper wasp (Polistes chinensis) ecology and invertebrate conservation on Onetahua (Farewell Spit)

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