The suppressive potential of a gene drive in populations of invasive social wasps is currently limited

• DOI: 10.1101/2022.06.27.497711
• Publication Date: 2022-07-01T03:35:12Z
• Authors: Adriaan B. Meiborg; Nicky R. Faber; Benjamin A. Taylor; Brock A. Harpur; Gregor Gorjanc
• Keywords: Haplodiploidy; Gene drive

Social insects are very successful invasive species, and the continued increase of global trade transportation has exacerbated this problem. The yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax (henceforth Asian hornet), is drastically expanding its range in Western Europe. As an apex insect predator, hornet poses a serious threat to honey bee industry endemic pollinators. Current suppression methods have proven too inefficient expensive limit spread. Gene drives might be effective tool control but their use not yet been thoroughly investigated social insects. Here, we built model that matches hornet’s life history modelled effect different gene drive scenarios on established population. To test broader applicability sensitivity model, also incorporated European paper wasp Polistes dominula . We find although can spread through population, it only do so under stringent drive-specific conditions. main issue large number offspring colonies produce guarantees that, even with limited formation resistance alleles, such alleles will quickly rescue Furthermore, targeting female fertility promising for population due haplodiploidy Nevertheless, improvements technology may make method