Taxonomy
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae Laicharting, 1781
Subfamily: Vespinae Laicharting, 1781
Genus: Vespa Linnaeus, 1758
Species: Vespa ducalis Smith, 1852
Common names: black-tailed hornet
Background
Vespa ducalis occurs in southeastern Eurasia. It is quite different from other Vespa species in that it preys on nests of other paper wasps and feeds the pupaepupae:
an inactive immature stage in insects between larva and adult
and larvaelarvae:
active immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa
of other paper wasps to its own larvaelarvae:
active immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa
(Smith-Pardo et al. 2020)(Smith-Pardo et al. 2020):
Smith-Pardo A., JM Carpenter amp; LS Kimsey. 2020. The diversity of hornets in the genus Vespa , their importance and interceptions in the United States. Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (3): 1ndash;27..
Distribution
Vespa ducalis is native to India, Sikkim, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Hainan, Taiwan, Russia, Korea, and Japan (Smith-Pardo et al. 2020)(Smith-Pardo et al. 2020):
Smith-Pardo A., JM Carpenter amp; LS Kimsey. 2020. The diversity of hornets in the genus Vespa , their importance and interceptions in the United States. Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (3): 1ndash;27..
Diagnostic characteristics
To identify the genus:
- both pronotal and pretegular carinae present
- head vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
with the distance from posterior ocellusocellus:
single facet light reception organs; on the top of the adult head
to the posterior margin of vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
more than twice the distance between the posterior ocelliocelli:
single facet light reception organs; on the top of the adult head
and the compound eye
- basal basal:
originating at the foundation of a structure
metasomal segment anteriorly rounded
- length of forewingforewing:
the front wing attached to the middle thoracic segment
prestigma three times or more the length of the pterostigma (Smith-Pardo et al. 2020)(Smith-Pardo et al. 2020):
Smith-Pardo A., JM Carpenter amp; LS Kimsey. 2020. The diversity of hornets in the genus Vespa , their importance and interceptions in the United States. Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (3): 1ndash;27.
To identify the species:
- elongated first gastral tergum
- lateral lateral:
the side
apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
margin of clypeusclypeus:
sutures
produced as a blunt triangular projection
- vertex vertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
not black
- second metasomal tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
with two or more pale bands including a broad apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
orange-yellow bandband:
usually referring to bands of hair or bands of color that traverse across an abdominal segment
(Archer 1991)(Archer 1991):
Archer ME. 1991. Taxonomy and bionomics of the Vespa tropica group (Hym., Vespinae). Entomologists Monthly Magazine 127: 225ndash;232.
- metasomal tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
never entirely black (Smith-Pardo et al. 2020)(Smith-Pardo et al. 2020):
Smith-Pardo A., JM Carpenter amp; LS Kimsey. 2020. The diversity of hornets in the genus Vespa , their importance and interceptions in the United States. Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (3): 1ndash;27.
- male ventralventral:
the underside of an insect, or segment of an insect
margin of eye separated from clypeal margin
Biology/Life cycle
Annual colonies of V. ducalis are small with an average of three combs and 50 individuals. Nests are usually built underground, in tree hollows, and have been found in attics (Archer 1991)(Archer 1991):
Archer ME. 1991. Taxonomy and bionomics of the Vespa tropica group (Hym., Vespinae). Entomologists Monthly Magazine 127: 225ndash;232.. At higher latitudes nest foundation begins from early June with the first workers emerging by late July. Vespa ducalis queens first appear by late August, and colony termination begins the following month (cycle length about four months). At lower latitudes colony cycles last about seven to eight months (Archer 2008)(Archer 2008):
Archer ME. 2008. Taxonomy, distribution and nesting biology of species of the genera Provespa Ashmead and Vespa Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Entomologistrsquo;s Monthly Magazine 144: 69ndash;101..
May be confused with
Vespa philippinensis
- V. philippinensis vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
black; first three gastral tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
primarily or extensively orange-yellow (Archer 1991)(Archer 1991):
Archer ME. 1991. Taxonomy and bionomics of the Vespa tropica group (Hym., Vespinae). Entomologists Monthly Magazine 127: 225ndash;232.
Vespa tropica
- V. tropica vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
usually black, if not, second gastral tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
entirely orange-yellow (Archer 1991)(Archer 1991):
Archer ME. 1991. Taxonomy and bionomics of the Vespa tropica group (Hym., Vespinae). Entomologists Monthly Magazine 127: 225ndash;232.
Known introductions
Vespa ducalis has been introduced and established in Europe. It has been found in British Columbia and Texas but does not seem to be established.
