Vespa affinis (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 : 4-5

Vespa affinis (Linnaeus)

Figs. 4d , 9c, 10b, 10d , and 14

Apis affinis Linnaeus, 1764: 417 . Holotype female; ‘in Calidis regionibus’ (UPPSALA).

Vespa affinis Fabricius, 1787: 287 . Syntype females; China (COPENHAGEN). Nec Vespa affinis (Linnaeus, 1764) .

Vespa unifasciata Olivier, 1792: 677 . Type unknown; ‘Indes orientales’ (repository unknown). Nec Vespa unifasciata Gmelin, 1790 .

Vespa alduini Guérin-Méneville, 1831: 264 . Holotype male; Indonesia, Maluku, Buru Isl. , ‘l’île de Bourou, l’une des Moluques’ (GENOA).

Vespa bimaculata Guérin-Méneville, 1838: 264 . Unnecessary replacement name for Vespa alduini Guérin-Méneville. Nec Vespa bimaculata Geoffroy, 1785 , and Vespa bimaculata Olivier, 1792 .

Vespa nigripennis de Saussure, 1854: 156 . Type unknown; Philippines (repository unknown). Nec Vespa nigripennis Degeer, 1773 .

Vespa cincta var. picea du Buysson, 1905 (1904) : 537, Lectotype female (designated by van der Vecht, 1959: 214); Papua New Guinea, ‘Tupuseleia or Kapakapa’ (van der Vecht does not indicate which locality) (GENOVA).

Vespa indosinensis Pérez, 1910: 8 . Lectotype female (designated by van der Vecht, 1957: 28); Vietnam: Annam (PARIS). Given as V. affinis indosinensis by van der Vecht, 1957.

Vespa formosana Sonan, 1927: 125 . Lectotype female (designated by Kojima et al. 2011: 45); Taiwan: Taihoku (TAICHUNG).

Vespa affinis var. continentalis Bequaert, 1936: 350 . Holotype female; India: Mangalore (WASHINGTON).

Vespa affinis var. hainanensis Bequaert, 1936: 349 . Holotype female; China: Hainan Is., 2 mi s Nodoa (CAMBRIDGE).

Vespa affinis nigriventris van der Vecht, 1957: 29 . Holotype female; Philippines: Palawan, Puerto Princesa (LOGAN).

Vespa affinis rufonigrans van der Vecht, 1957: 29 . Holotype female; Indonesia: Sulawesi, Palu ‘ North West Celebes’ (LEIDEN).

Vespa affinis archboldi van der Vecht, 1957: 32 . Holotype female; Indonesia: ‘ Hollandia’ (LEIDEN).

Vespa affinis moluccana van der Vecht, 1957: 32 . Holotype female; Indonesia: Saparua I. (LEIDEN).

Vespa affinis alticincta van der Vecht, 1957: 33 . Holotype female; New Britain (LONDON-NHM).

Distribution. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan (Ryukyu Is.), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and introduced into Australia, New Zealand, United States.

Discussion. This is one of the smaller bodied hornets, and is common in subtropical and tropical Asia. They are generalist scavengers, feeding on nectar, fruit, tree sap, carrion, and insects, including honeybees. Vespa affinis nests are usually built high in trees, but can also be found in shrubs, and on and in buildings ( Archer 1997).

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. 9–12. Vespa morphology. (a, b) Dorsal view of metasoma. (c, d) Dorsal view of basal metasomal terga. Fig. 10. (a, b) Dorsal view of scutum. (c, d) Dorsal view of metasoma. Fig. 11. (a, b) Lateral view of head. (c, d) Dorsal view of metasoma. Fig. 12. (a, b) Front view of clypeus.(c-f) Dorsal view of metanotum. Figs. 9a, 9b,V. orientalis. Figs. 9c, 10b, d, V. affinis. Fig. 9d, V. crabro. Figs. 10a, 10c, 11b, 11c, V. mocsaryana. Fig. 11a, V. fumida. Fig. 11d. V. dybowskii. Figs. 12a, 12f, V. multimaculata. Figs. 12b, d, e, V. bicolor. Fig. 12c, V. luctuosa.

Figs. 13 and 14. Vespa morphology. (a, b) Dorsal view of scutum. (c, d) Lateral view of pronotal lobe. (e, f) Lateral view of anterior pronotal carina. (a) V. basalis. (b) V. ducalis. (c) V. vivax. (d) V. velutina. Fig. 14. V. affinis coloration. (a) Lateral view. (b) Dorsal view. (c) Front view of face.