Vespa affinis (Linnaeus, 1764)

(Figs. 4, 26)

Apis affinis Linnaeus, 1764: 417 .

Vespa affinis rufonigrans van der Vecht, 1957: 28 .

Specimens examined. Sulawesi I.: North Sulawesi: 1 ♀ (MZB), 4.iv.1985; 2 ♀ (MZB), alt. ca. 210 m, 47 km WSW Kotomobagu, Domoga-Bone NP [ca. 00˚44’S 124˚19’E], v.1985; 1 ♀ (MZB), 51 m SW Kotomobagu, 21.v.1985; 2 ♀ (IUNH), 01°30’N 125°11’E, Tangkoko, 26.xi.1999, JK; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 01°28’N 124°51’E, Manado, 28.xi.1999, JK; Central Sulawesi: 16 ♀, 8 ♂ (MZB; paratypes of Vespa affinis rufonigrans), Palu [ca. 00˚54’S 119˚53’E], C. Frassen [16 ♀, 4 ♂, i.1937; 4 ♀, ii.1937]; South East Sulawesi: North Kolaka: 1 ♂ (MZB), 03˚38’S 121˚04’E, alt. ca. 185 m, Rante Angin, Tinukari, 4.viii.2009, RU et al. Indonesian Archipelago other than Sulawesi I.: Sumatra I.: Jambi: 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (IUNH), 02°03’S 101°22’E, alt. ca. 825 m, Bukit Sentiong, Sungai Penuh, 21.v.2017, AH; 5 ♀ (IUNH), 02°03’S 101°24’E, alt. ca. 800 m, Sungai Penuh, 11.vii.2017, AH ; West Sumatra: 5 ♀ (SEHU), Lubuk Minturun [ca. 00˚50’S 100˚22’E], SKY [1 ♀, 17.x.1980; 2 ♀, 6.xi.1980; 2 ♀, 14.xi.1980]; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 00°50’S 100°22’E, alt. ca. 300 m, Lubuk Minturun, 3.xi.2001, JK; 1 ♀ (SEHU), Simpang Tabing, Padang [ca. 00˚52’S 100˚21’E], 18.i.1984, T. Inoue; 1 ♀ (SEHU), Lubuk Paraku, Padang [ca. 00˚57’S 100˚30’E], 28.vii.1984, A. Ja-mal; Flores I.: 1 ♀ (IUNH), 08°44’S 121°45’E, Sipizena, Detusoko, Ende, 26.i.2003, JK; Sumba I.: 3 ♀ (IUNH), 09°40’S 120°22’E, Watunbaga, Pandawai, 28.i.2003, JK & RU; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 09°45’S 120°35’E, Wanga, 29.i.2003, JK & RU; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 09°55’S 120°39’E, alt. ca. 120 m, Watuhadang, Umalulu, 29.i.2003, JK & RU; New Guinea I.: 1 ♀ (MZB), 04˚37’S 136˚54’W, alt. ca. 25 m, Freeport Concession, Timika, 25.iii.1998, RU & D. Peggie .

Remarks. This species, represented by local color forms (Bequaert, 1936; van der Vecht, 1957; Archer, 1997), is widely distributed in the Oriental and Papuan regions, from the eastern parts of Indian subcontinent in the west, through Southeast Asia to New Britain and New Ireland in the east. The present species occurs throughout Sulawesi I. and the color pattern of the Sulawesian population is the same as those of the populations of Borneo I. and North Moluccas; the head is mostly ferruginous and the first two metasomal terga are entirely orange yellow (see also van der Vecht (1957:28)).

Distribution records: Indonesian Archipelago: throughout the archipelago, including New Guinea I.; Eastern parts of Indian subcontinent; Sri Lanka; Indochina Peninsular; southern parts of continental China; Taiwan; Ryukyu Islands south of Miyako I.; Palawan I., New Britain and New Ireland Islands (van der Vecht, 1957; Nguyen et al., 2006a).