ETD

• behavioural ecology
• electric harps
• invasive alien species
• management strategies
• Vespa velutina
• Vespidae

Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major environmental threat, disrupting ecosystems and threatening biodiversity. Vespa velutina is among Europe’s most problematic IAS, rapidly expanding across Western Europe. Its broad diet, targeting Apis mellifera and other native insects, and competition with native species cause significant ecological impacts, making management challenging. Despite growing knowledge of its biology and invasion dynamics, management is limited by gaps in effectiveness, timeliness, coordination, and assessment of control techniques. Electric harps show promise in reducing predation at bee colonies, yet their influence on hornet behaviour remains poorly understood. This thesis addresses these gaps through a Europe-wide survey, revealing inconsistencies in IAS management and weak international coordination, and an ethological study, showing that electric harps reduce hornet presence and alter its behaviour. Overall, it provides an overview of V. velutina invasion and management while advancing knowledge of its behavioural ecology, aiming to support more effective, coordinated mitigation strategies.