Taxonomy
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: VVespidae Laicharting, 1781
Subfamily: Vespinae Laicharting, 1781
Genus: Vespa Linnaeus, 1758
Species: Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, 1771
Common names: Oriental hornet
Background
Vespa orientalis is a distinctively reddish orange and yellow-colored hornet. It is a common and widespread hornet species throughout southern Eurasia and North Africa. Nests are generally built in preexisting underground cavities (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 orientalis is native to north Africa, southern Europe, Turkey, Middle East, southern Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Xinjiang. It has been introduced to the Czech Republic, Spain, and Madagascar. It has been recorded in Mexico but is not thought to be established (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.. This is the only Vespa species that inhabits desert climates, such as North Africa and the Middle East.
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
- forewing forewing:
the front wing attached to the middle thoracic segment
prestigma three times or more as long as 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:
- metasomal tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
2, 5 and 6 entirely reddish or dark brown
- metasomal tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
3 and usually 4 mostly yellow with a complete yellow band
- Albanian color form has all metasomal tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
brown except for two yellow marks on the apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
margin of first tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
(Archer 1998a)(Archer 1998a):
Archer ME. 1998 Taxonomy, distribution and nesting biology of Vespa orientalis . Entomologist#39;s Monthly Magazine 138:45ndash;51.
Biology/Life cycle
Unlike most Vespa species, V. orientalis is a scavenger, feeding on live insects as well as carrion, fruit, and nectar.
Vespa orientalis generally builds its nest underground in rodent burrows or in rock crevices. It will also build nests in structures including empty beehives, abandoned outhouses, under eaves or floorboards and similar situations. Colonies are annual and must be founded new every spring by overwintering, hibernating queens. Colonies can be large with several thousand individuals. These hornets are unusual as the yellow pigment on the metasomametasoma:
the posterior part of the body
is used to capture solar energy, which allows them to remain active longer into the day without feeding (Plotkin et al. 2010)(Plotkin et al. 2010):
Plotkin M, et al. 2010. Solar energy harvesting in the epicuticle of the Oriental hornet ( Vespa orientalis ). Naturwissenschaften 97 (12): 1067ndash;1076. doi: 10.1007/s00114-010-0728-1.
May be confused with
Vespa affinis, V. mocsaryana
- Unlike V. affinis, V. orientalis has metasomal tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
2, 5, and 6 reddish brown or dark brown, tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
3 and usually tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
4 mostly yellow with a basalbasal:
originating at the foundation of a structure
reddish brown bandband:
usually referring to bands of hair or bands of color that traverse across an abdominal segment
extending medially with two small, laterallateral:
the side
reddish brown spots (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.
Vespa phillipinensis, V. ducalis, V. tropica
- V. orientalis has the apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
clypeal margin produced into two broadly rounded projections, but in V. phillipinensis, V. ducalis, and V. tropica apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
margin produced into two acute triangular projections (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.
Known introductions
Vespa orientalis has been introduced to Mexico, Chile, Madagascar, and southeastern China, as well as occasional introductions associated with fruit into Belgium and the United Kingdom (Dvorak, 2006). It has been intercepted in the USA (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.. It is not established in any of these places.
