Spatial patterns of ecosystem disservices across urban-rural gradients: Municipal wasp extermination data from Kobe, Japan

Abstract Urban greening initiatives provide numerous ecosystem services but may inadvertently increase human-wildlife conflicts (ecosystem disservices). In Japan, hornets (Vespa spp.) and paper wasps (Polistes spp.) represent significant disservices due to their stings, which occasionally result in fatalities. To understand how urban environments shape public encounters with these wasps, we analyzed 7,916 extermination request records (2019–2021) from Kobe City, Japan, a highly urbanized region with steep land-use gradients. Building on previous research in Tokyo and Nagoya, our study presents the first fine-scale analysis of how land-use gradients shape genus-specific wasp extermination patterns, differentiating between Vespa (hornets) and Polistes (paper wasps). We examined the effects of surrounding land-use characteristics and population density on extermination frequencies across 779 neighborhood-level districts. Vespa exterminations peaked in areas with ~ 15–20% developed land and declined sharply in denser urban zones, whereas Polistes exterminations were highest in ~ 40% developed areas and increased linearly with population size. Farmland showed a strong negative effect on Vespa exterminations but no effect on Polistes. The relative share of Polistes increased with urbanization, rising from 6.6% baseline to approximately 30% in highly developed areas, suggesting an urban dominance of this genus. Spatial analysis revealed that Polistes exterminations were concentrated in post-1960s suburban "new towns" where detached housing with gardens provides ideal nesting sites, while new residents may lack familiarity with wasp management. These patterns reflect both ecological habitat preferences and social perceptions of risk, including psychological factors such as fear, disgust, and limited familiarity with insects in urban settings. These findings highlight the importance of integrating disservice considerations into biodiversity-friendly urban planning and provide actionable thresholds for spatially-targeted management strategies.