*Review Vespa velutina***: An Alien Driver of Honey Bee Colony Losses**

#### **Daniela Laurino \*, Simone Lioy, Luca Carisio, Aulo Manino and Marco Porporato**

Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco (Turin), Italy; simone.lioy@unito.it (S.L.); luca.carisio@unito.it (L.C.); aulo.manino@unito.it (A.M.); marco.porporato@unito.it (M.P.)

**\*** Correspondence: daniela.laurino@unito.it

Received: 15 November 2019; Accepted: 18 December 2019; Published: 20 December 2019

**Abstract:** *Vespa velutina*, or Asian yellow-legged hornet, was accidentally introduced from China to other parts of the world: South Korea in 2003, Europe in 2004, and Japan in 2012. *V. velutina* represents a serious threat to native pollinators. It is known to be a fierce predator of honey bees, but can also hunt wild bees, native wasps, and other flying insects. When *V. velutina* colonies are developed, many hornets capture foraging bees which are coming back to their hives, causing an increase in homing failure and paralysis of foraging thus leading to colony collapse. The hornets may enter weak beehives to prey on brood and pillage honey. Unlike *Apis cerana*, *Apis mellifera* is unable to cope with the predation pressure of *V. velutina*. Monitoring the spread of an invasive alien species is crucial to plan appropriate managemen<sup>t</sup> actions and activities to limit the expansion of the species. In addition, an early detection of *V. velutina* in areas far away from the expansion front allows a rapid response aimed to remove these isolated populations before the settlement of the species. Where *V. velutina* is now established, control measures to prevent colony losses must be implemented with an integrated pest managemen<sup>t</sup> approach.

**Keywords:** *Vespa velutina*; alien driver; honey bee; damage; pollinator
