Vespa affinis (Linnaeus)

Kimsey, Lynn S. & Carpenter, James M., 2012, The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 28, pp. 37-65 : 43-44

Vespa affinis (Linnaeus) Figs 5 26

Apis affinis Linnaeus 1764:417. Holotype female; "in Calidus regionibus" (UPPSALA).

Vespa affinis Fabricius 1787:287. Holotype; "in China" (COPENHAGEN). Nec Vespa affinis (Linnaeus) 1764.

Vespa unifasciata Olivier 1792:677. Type unknown; "Indes orientales". Nec Vespa unifasciata Gmelin 1790.

Vespa alduini Guérin-Méneville 1831:pl. 9 fig. 6; 1838: 264. Holotype; “l’île de Bourou, l’une des Moluques" (Indonesia) (GENOA).

Vespa bimaculata Guérin-Méneville: 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. Holotype; "Les Philippines" (LONDON). Nec Vespa nigripennis Degeer 1773.

Vespa cincta var. picea du Buysson 1905 (1904):537. Lectotype female; New Guinea (GENOA).

Vespa indosinensis Pérez 1910:8. Lectotype female; Annam (PARIS).

Vespa formosana Sonan 1927:125. Syntype male, female; Taihoku (Taiwan) (TAICHUNG).

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

Vespa affinis var. hainanensis Bequaert 1936:347. Holotype female; China: Hainan Island (CAMBRIDGE).

Vespa affinis nigriventris van der Vecht 1957:29. Holotype female; ”Palawan” (Philippines) (GAINESVILLE).

Vespa affinis rufonigrans van der Vecht 1957:29. Holotype female; "Palu, Northwest Celebes" (Indonesia) (LIEDEN).

Vespa affinis archboldi van der Vecht 1957:32. Holotype female; ”Hollandia” (New Guinea) (LIEDEN).

Vespa affinis moluccana van der Vecht 1957:32. Holotype female, "Saparua I. Near Amboina" (Indonesia) (LIEDEN).

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

Distribution.

There is a single report of a colony of this Asian species in North America, from San Pedro, in Los Angeles Co., California in 2010 (LSK, personal observation). It is not clear if the species has become established in California. It has also been introduced into New Zealand. Its native range is from India to the Bismarck Islands.

Biology.

In Asia, Vespa affinis builds large aerial nests of up to several thousand workers ( Archer 1997). These wasps are predatory on other insects including honey bees near their hives.

Figures

Figures 2 - 13. 11 - 12 Front view of face 5 - 7 Dorsal view of head 8 - 10 Lateral view of head 11 Dorsal view of thorax 12, 13 Lateral view of male metasomal tergum VII.

Figures 26 - 37. Dorsal view of worker metasoma.