Taxonomy
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae Laicharting, 1781
Subfamily: Vespinae Laicharting, 1781
Genus: Vespa Linnaeus, 1758
Species: Vespa tropica Linnaeus, 1758
Common names: greater banded hornet
Background
Vespa tropica is a common and widespread hornet in Southeast Asia (Archer 1991)(Archer 1991):
Archer ME. 1991. Taxonomy and bionomics of the Vespa tropica group (Hym., Vespinae). Entomologists Monthly Magazine 127: 225ndash;232.. It is known to prey on nests of other social wasps and honeybees (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 tropica is native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, southeastern China, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Malaya, Borneo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Philippines. It was introduced into Guam in 2016 (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
Vespa tropica is distinctively colored with the metasomametasoma:
the posterior part of the body
black, except for a broad orange-yellow stripe across most of the second segment in most individuals (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 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 tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
1 elongate
- apical apical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
margin of clypeusclypeus:
sutures
produced laterally into a blunt triangular projection
- vertex vertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
usually black, but if not then 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.
- metasomal tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
all black, or tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
2 orange-yellow or black with narrow, distaldistal:
part of a segment that is furthest from the point of attachment to the body
orange-yellow bandband:
usually referring to bands of hair or bands of color that traverse across an abdominal segment
that extends much less than one-third of tergal width (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.
Biology/Life cycle
This species is primarily a predator on other social wasps and bees, including honeybees (Apis mellifera) and paper wasps. It will also take other large-bodied insects, like dragonflies. Vespa tropica will raid social insect nests and take the captured larvaelarvae:
active immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa
back to feed their own larvaelarvae:
active immature form of an insect, especially one that differs greatly from the adult and forms the stage between egg and pupa
. It is associated with lowland forests where it builds nests in tree cavities generally up to 18 ft above ground, or in existing subterranean cavities. Around human habitations V. tropica will build their nests in attic spaces, sheds, or beneath roofs (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 tropica is considered a short-cycle species (4 months) when compared to congeners. Queens first appear in mid-April to early May and nests are founded in early June. Males and new queens continue to be produced for one to two months with colony demise occurring in early September. Overwintering queens of V. tropica have been found in the soil and rotten wood where she clings to the ceiling or wall of the structure (Matsuura and Yamane 1984)(Matsuura and Yamane 1984):
Matsuura M amp; S Yamane. 1984. Biology of the Vespine Wasps. Springer-Verlag: New York.. Colonies of this species are annual.
May be confused with
Vespa philippinensis
- V. philippinensis vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
black and metasomal tergaterga:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
1–3 extensively orange-yellow
- V. philippinensis males the eye touches the clypeal margin (Archer 1991)(Archer 1991):
Archer ME. 1991. Taxonomy and bionomics of the Vespa tropica group (Hym., Vespinae). Entomologists Monthly Magazine 127: 225ndash;232.
Vespa ducalis
- V. ducalis vertexvertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
yellow to orange, not black
- V. ducalis metasomal tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
2 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.
Vespa orientalis
- V. tropica apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
margin of clypeusclypeus:
sutures
produced into two acute triangular projections. In V. orientalis it is produced into two broadly rounded 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 tropica was first found in Guam in 2016 and has become widespread on the island (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..
