A systematic review of predators of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina (Vespidae: Hymenoptera) and newly confirmed predation records from South Korea

Climate change and expanding international trade are accelerating biological invasions, intensifying the need to explore the mechanisms underlying the incorporation of invasive species into native food webs. Importantly, the invasive yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina (Lepeletier, 1836), has rapidly expanded across Asia and Europe and continues to generate ecological and economic impacts, particularly in apiculture. However, research on V. velutina predators remains largely fragmented and consists primarily of region-specific or single-species studies. Here, we conducted a systematic review of the confirmed predators of V. velutina worldwide and reported newly confirmed predation cases in South Korea. Major bibliographic databases were screened for records of direct evidence of predation. In South Korea (2023–2025), we combined field observations with fecal analyses, winter nest monitoring, and predation verification using documentary footage and biodiversity platform records. A total of 17 predator taxa across four classes, seven orders, and 11 families were identified. Predation was categorized into three ecological modes: opportunistic individual predation on adults outside the nests, colony-level predation involving nest destruction and brood removal, and winter nest intrusion, targeting weakened post-season nests. A badger (Meles leucurus) was confirmed as a mammalian predator based on fecal analyses. In addition, documentary footage revealed that a Crested honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) attacked nests and consumed the exposed broods. During winter, woodpeckers (Picidae) frequently initiated nest perforation. Similarly, brown-eared bulbuls (Hypsipetes amaurotis) exhibited envelope breaking and brood consumption in rural and urban settings. Our review showed that V. velutina is embedded in diverse trophic guilds and that predatory effects are likely local and context-dependent. Overall, this review provides an updated global inventory of confirmed predators, clarifies predation modes, and provides evidence-based implications for ecosystem management and integrated control strategies.