Vespa simillima Smith, 1868

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 : 19

Vespa simillima Smith

Figs. 42 and 43

Vespa simillima Smith, 1868: 280 . Holotype female; Japan: ‘ Hakodadi’ (LONDON-NHM).

Vespa mongolica André, 1884: 4 . Syntype male, female; Russia: ‘Vladivostock, sur l’Amour, dans la Sibérie orientale’ ( PARIS?) .

Vespa xanthoptera Cameron, 1903: 278 . Holotype male; Japan: ‘ Michzusawa’ (LONDON-NHM).

Vespa micado Cameron, 1903: 279 . Lectotype female (designated by Kojima, 1997: 20); Japan: Nagasaki (LONDON-NHM).

Vespa mongolica var. sexpunctata Pérez, 1905: 24 . Holotype female; Japan: ‘ Yokohama’ (PARIS).

Vespa mongolica var. flavata Pérez, 1910: 17 . Holotype female; China (PARIS).

Distribution. China (Liaoning), southwestern Russia, Korea, Japan (including Yaku-shima Is.). Introduced into British Columbia, Canada, but not established; Taiwan?

Discussion. Nests of this species have been found in the ground, and in sheltered above ground sites, such as hollow trees, wall voids, and attics. A queen of V. simillima was found in the village of Tsaochan in Taiwan in 2003, but it is unclear whether the species has established on the island ( Sung et al. 2006). It is apparently not established in British Colombia (Kimsey and Carpenter 2012).

Figures

Figs. 42 and 43. Vespa simillima color forms. (a) Lateral view. (b) Dorsal view. (c) Front view of face.