Vespa tropica (Linnaeus)

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 : 20-21

Vespa tropica (Linnaeus)

Figs. 7b, 7e, 7f , and 45–49

Sphex tropica Linnaeus, 1758: 571 . Holotype female; ‘in Indiis’ (UPPSALA).

Vespa cincta Fabricius, 1775: 362 . Holotype?; India: ‘ad littora Malabarica’ (LONDON-LS). Nec Vespa cincta Drury, 1773 .

Vespa crabro tenebrionis Christ, 1791: 216 . Type? (destroyed).

Vespa deusta Lepeletier, 1836: 506 . Lectotype female (designated by van der Vecht, 1959: 226); ‘Patrie inconnue’ (TURIN).

Vespa unicolor Smith, 1863: 44 . Holotype female; Indonesia:‘ Bouru’ (OXFORD).

Vespa cinta Wroughton, 1889: 35 . Misspelling of Vespa cincta Degeer 1773 .

Vespa eulemoides du Buysson, 1905 (1904) : 530. Holotype female; India: ‘Ile Andaman: port de Blair’ (GENOA).

Vespa affinis var. trisignata Pérez, 1910: 8 . Holotype female; Indonesia: ‘ Timor’ (PARIS).

Vespa rubricans Pérez, 1910: 10 . Lectotype female (designated by van der Vecht 1957); ‘Lindi ( Afrique orientale allemande)’ (PARIS).

Vespa tropica var. anthracina Bequaert, 1936: 341 . Holotype female; Philippines: ‘ Sibuwan’ (WASHINGTON).

Vespa tropica var. haematodes Bequaert, 1936: 338 . Holotype female; India: ‘ Kooloo’ (CAMBRIDGE).

Vespa tropica leefmansi van der Vecht, 1957: 19 . Holotype female; Indonesia: ‘ Solok , Padang, Sumatra’ (LEIDEN)

Vespa tropica trimeres van der Vecht, 1957: 19 ; Holotype female; Indonesia: Sulawesi, ‘ Palu, West Celebes’ (LEIDEN).

Vespa tropica cebuana Kojima and Reyes, 1984: 260 . Holotype female; Philippines: ‘ Cebu City’ (TOKYO).

Distribution. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, southeastern China, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Malaya, Borneo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (including New Britain), Philippines; exotic in Guam.

Discussion. This is a distinctively colored Vespa , with a black metasoma, except for a broad yellow to orange stripe across most of the second segment (as in V. affinis ), although some individuals may lack this stripe. Vespa tropica are nest predators of other social wasps as well as other large-bodied insects, including honeybees ( Archer 1991). Nests are either above ground in tree cavities or in cavities in the ground. Around human habitations, they will build nests under eaves, in shed, and attics.

Figures

Figs. 5–8. Vespa morphology.Fig. 5.Lateral view of metasomal tergum 2.Fig.6. (a,b) Lateral view of pretegular pronotal carina.(c, d) Front view of clypeus.Fig. 7. (a, b) Front view of clypeus. (c, d). Dorsal view of vertex. Fig. 8. (a, c) Lateral view of metasoma. (b, d, e) Dorsal view of metasoma. Fig. 5a, V. fervida. Fig. 5b, V. luctuosa. Figs. 6a, 6c, 7a, 8a, 8c, V. philippinensis. Figs. 6b, 6d, V. velutina. Figs. 7b, 7e, 7f V. tropica. Figs.7c, 7d, 8d, V. ducalis. Fig. 8b, V. bicolor.

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.

Figs. 46 and 47. Vespa tropica color forms. (a) Lateral view. (b) Dorsal view. (c) Front view of face.

Figs. 48 and 49. Vespa tropica color forms. (a) Lateral view. (b) Dorsal view. (c) Front view of face.