Vespa tropica (Linnaeus, 1758)

(Figs. 1, 26)

Sphex tropica Linnaeus, 1758: 571 .

Vespa tropica trimeres van der Vecht, 1957: 19 .

Specimens examined. Sulawesi I.: North Sulawesi: 4 ♀ (MZB), Dumoga-Bone NP (=Bogani Nani Wartabone NP), 47 km WSW Kotomabagu, Torant [ca. 00˚38‘N 123˚37‘E], alt. ca. 210 m [1 ♀, iv.1985; 3 ♀, v.1985] ; 1 ♀ (MZB), 04˚27’S 122˚04’E, alt. ca. 25 m, Dumoga-Bone NP, 26.xi.2011, Darmawan . Central Sulawesi: 5 ♀ (MZB, paratypes of trimeres), Palu [ca. 00˚54’S 119˚53’E], ii.1937, C. Frassen). South East Sulawes i: North Kolaka: 1 ♀ (MZB), 03˚38.2’S 121˚04’E, Mekongga mountain 8 km nr Tinukari, 3.vii.2009, S. Heydon; 1 ♀ (MZB), 03˚38’S 121˚04’E, alt. ca. 40 m, Wawo, Tinukari (camp 1), 12.viii.2009, GY . South Sulawesi: 1 ♀ (MZB, paratype of trimeres), Tooyonbae, Palopo [ca. 03˚00’S 120˚12’E], alt. ca. 1,000 m, viii.1936, L. J. Toxopeus; 5 ♀, 1 ♂ (MZB, paratypes of trimeres), Nanggala, Rantepao [ca. 02˚58’S 119˚52’E], alt. ca. 900 m, v.1938, F. C. Drescher; 1 ♀ (MZB, paratype of trimeres), Masamba, Luwu [ca. 02˚26’S 120˚22’E], 16.v.1941, H. & E. Vonk; 1 ♀ (MZB, para-type of trimeres), Bantimurung [ca. 04˚58’S 119˚39’E], alt. ca. 50 m, 9-18.viii.1949, A. Djakonoff & Manis. Indonesian Archipelago other than Sulawesi I.: Borneo I.: East Kalimantan: 12 ♀, 1 ♂ (IUNH), Bukit Soeharto [ca. 00˚56’S 116˚58’E], H. Makihara [1 ♀, 1 ♂, 6.i.1998; 2 ♀, 12.i.1998; 1 ♀, 26.i.1998; 6 ♀, 9.ii.1998; 1 ♀, 23.ii.1998; 1 ♀, 9.iii.1998]; Sumatra I.: West Sumatra: 1 ♀ (SEHU), Padang [ca. 00°56’S 100°27’E], 23.xi.1980, SKY; 20 ♀ (SEHU), Lubuk Minturun [ca. 00˚50’S 100˚22’E], SKY [1 ♀, 27.xi.1980; 1 ♀, 5.xii.1980; 1 ♀, 12.xii.1980; 1 ♀, 14.xii.1980; 2 ♀, 19.xii.1980; 4 ♀, 3.vii.1981; 1 ♀, 5.vii.1981; 1 ♀, 10.vii.1981; 1 ♀, 24.vii.1981; 1 ♀, 25.vii.1981; 1 ♀, 30.vii.1981; 3 ♀, 1.viii.1981; 1 ♀, 7.viii.1981; 1 ♀, 18.viii.1981]; 2 ♀ (SEHU), Sungai Dareh [ca. 00˚57’S 101˚30’E] [1 ♀, 11.x.1983, Inoue, T.; 1 ♀, 17.xi.1984, Asril]; 4 ♀ (MZB), alt. ca. 1.650 m, Talang Lake [ca. 01˚01’S 100˚42’E], 12.xii.1987, Siti Salmah ; Java I.: West Java: 1 ♀ (IUNH), 06°33’S 107°04’E, Cimenyan, Sukamakmur, Jonggol, Bogor, 25.x.2000, JK; East Java: 2 ♀ (IUNH), 07°51’S 114°28’E, Baluran NP, 14.ix.2005, JK & RU; 2 ♀ (IUNH), 07°50’S 114°26’E, Baluran NP, 15.ix.2005, JK & RU; Bali I.: 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (IUNH), 08°14’S 114°27’E, Bali Barat NP, 13.ix.2005, JK & RU. Sumbawa I.: 1 ♀ (IUNH), 08°35’S 117°17’E, alt. ca. 800 m, Batudulang, Batulan-teh, 10.xi.2000, JK; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 08°29’S 118°32’E, Ndano, Mada Pangga (Bolo), Bima, 13.xi.2000, JK .

Remarks. This species, representing many local color forms, is widely distributed in the Oriental and Papuan Region, from Afghanistan to New Guinea and its adjacent islands (van der Vecht, 1957; Carpenter & Kojima, 1997). Having the first metasomal tergum extensively marked with orange-yellow, the Sulawesian population shows similar coloration to that of the New Guinean population (see also van der Vecht (1957:19)).

Distribution records: Indonesian Archipelago: throughout the archipelago, including New Guinea I.; Afghanistan; Indian subcontinent; Sri Lanka; southern parts of continental China; Indochina Peninsular; Philippine Islands; New Britain (van der Vecht, 1957; Carpenter & Kojima, 1997; Nguyen et al., 2006a).