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).