Vespa soror du Buysson

Smith-Pardo, Allan H., Carpenter, James M. & Kimsey, Lynn, 2020, The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus Vespa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance and Interceptions in the United States, Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (3), No. 2, pp. 1-27 : 19

Vespa soror du Buysson

Figs. 3a, 3c , and 44

Vespa ducalis var. soror du Buysson, 1905 (1904) : 519. Lectotype female (designated by van der Vecht, 1957: 16); China: Jaingxi, ‘Kiang-si’ (PARIS). Given as mandarina soror by van der Vecht, 1957.

Distribution. India, southwestern China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.

Discussion. Little biology is known for this species. It has been found in hilly and montane sites up to 1,500 m in continental southeastern Asia ( Archer 2008). The nests are typically underground. These wasps are predators of other insects and even small vertebrates, like geckos. They will also attack nests of honeybees and other social vespids, including hornets ( Lee 2009).

Figures

Figs. 1–4. Vespa morphology. Fig. 1 (a) Hindwing. (b) Forewing apex.(c) Lateral view of pronotal lobe.(e) Hindtarsal claws.(f)Thoracic dorsum. (g) Lateral view of metasomal segment 1. Fig. 2. (a) Lateral view of pronotal lobe. (b) Dorsal view of vertex, i =distance from hind ocellus to posterior head margin, ii=distance between lateral ocellus and eye. (c) Lateral view of metasomal segment 1. (d) Costal margin of forewing apex.(e) Dorsal view of vertex.(c) Front view of clypeus and mandibles. Fig. 3.(a, b) Lateral view of head. (c, d) Lateral view of metasoma.(3a, 3c)V.soror. Fig. 4. (a, b) Lateral view of metasomal tergum 2. (c, d) Lateral view of pronotal carina. (e, f) Front view of clypeus. Figs. 1a-g, 2a, 2b, 3b, 3d, V. crabro. Fig. 2c, V. binghami. Figs. 2d, 2e, V. analis. Fig. 2f, V. bicolor. Figs. 4a, 4e, V. fervida. Fig. 4b, V. multimaculata. Figs. 4c, 4f, V. luctuosa. Fig. 4d, V. affinis.

Figs. 44 and 45. Vespa color forms. (a) Lateral view. (b) Dorsal view. (c) Front view of face.Fig. 44. V. soror. Fig. 45. V. tropica.