Host Range Expansion of Nest-Parasitic Moths IPyralis regalis/I and IHypsopygia mauritialis/I in Social Wasp Nests: New Findings and Implications for Biological Control

• Published in: Diversity (Basel) Vol. 15; no. 6
• Main Authors: Shin, Young-Min, Lee, Heung Sik, Kim, Il-Kwon, Kim, Chang-Jun, Choi, Moon Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Biological control; Environmental aspects; Hymenoptera; Moths; Pests; South Korea
• ISSN: 1424-2818; 1424-2818
• DOI: 10.3390/d15060789

Parasitic moths are common in social wasp (Hymenoptera) nests, attacking many species of Polistinae and a few species of Vespinae. In the Republic of Korea, two moth species are known to parasitize the brood of Polistes rothneyi koreanus: Pyralis regalis (Pyralidae) and Anatrachyntis japonica (Cosmopterigidae). Although previously reported elsewhere, a novel case of parasitization was recently documented in the Republic of Korea, in which Hypsopygia mauritialis (Pyralidae) was identified in the nests of social wasps. Pyralis regalis is the most common parasitic moth in the Republic of Korea, feeding on the nests of 11 species of social wasps, mostly the Korean Vespa species. To that list of hosts, we add a species of Dolichovespula and two species of Polistes. Parasitism of Vespa velutina nigrithorax, an invasive alien hornet, by both P. regalis and H. mauritialis, was observed for the first time. However, their potential to control invasive alien hornets is expected to be low. This study provides new insights into the diversity of nest-parasitic moths in social wasp nests and their hosts in the Republic of Korea, and highlights the potential for these moths to impact pest populations.