Vespa basalis Smith

Figs. 13a and 17

Vespa basalis Smith, 1852: 46 . Holotype female; Nepal: ‘ Nepaul’ (LONDON-NHM).

Vespa obliterata Smith, 1852: 47 . Holotype female; ‘ Northern India’ (LONDON-NHM).

Vespa basilis Dover, 1929: 48 . Misspelling of Vespa basalis Smith, 1852 .

Distribution. Pakistan; India, Nepal, China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia: Sumatra.

Discussion. Vespa basalis occurs in forested regions between 500 m and 1,500 m (Archer 1999). Nests are built on tree branches, in shrubs, on buildings, in rock crevices, and even in the ground. The mostly dark brown to black metasoma is one of the more distinctive features of V. basalis .