Vespa simillima simillima Smith, 1868

Description.

Head (Fig. 8): CW / MW = 1.61–1.87 (n = mean 1.7). Cranium with moderate irregular rugo-reticulation, with some areas exhibiting parallel reticulation. Antenna positioned near the level of the dorsal margin of the clypeus (Fig. 8 D, E), faintly sclerotized or nearly transparent (Fig. 8 D – F). Temporal band (Fig. 8 F, G, J) with variable width; edges generally weakly margined except for the dorsal edge; inner part with moderate ferruginous pigmentation, excluding the dorsal and ventral regions; ventral edge positioned slightly above the dorsal margin of the antenna. Paired suprafrontal marks faint; dotted patches on the frons distinct, often extending ventrad (Fig. 8 D, E); region distal to the frontal suture with 15–22 setae concentrated mainly around the base of the antenna; frons with fewer than 14 setae distributed medially. Clypeus (Fig. 8 D – G) width similar to the minimum distance between the antennae; main disc with dorsal margin shallowly convex, dorsolateral corner roundly angulated, lateral margin slightly curved and lacking pigmented spots, except in the tentorial pits; ventral margin broadly convex; main disc not very high, with a CLI of 1.5–2; main disc with 45–60 setae; ventral section strongly narrowed dorsoventrally, with a straight ventral margin. Labrum (Fig. 8 H, left) with numerous sensory bristles, except in the dorsolateral region. Palate (Fig. 8 H, right) with a median patch; sclerotized patch reaching the apex of the palate, with variable pigmentation intensity; conical papillae small and dense ventrally, with over seven papillae located in the sclerotized patch, primarily medially (Fig. 8 H); spicules present in the medioventral part and along the lateral margin of the palate, as well as on the conical papillae (Fig. 8 C, H). Mandible (Fig. 8 A, F, I) with strongly sclerotized teeth; surface lacking pits but bearing a few stumps (Fig. 8 A). All mandibular teeth moderately produced and apically blunt; tooth I largest, stumpy, and round apically; tooth II often weakly bifid or trifid apically; tooth IIIa similar in size or slightly smaller than IIIb; teeth I and II separated at an angle of 55 ° – 85 °, II and IIIa at 65 ° – 85 °, and IIIa and IIIb at 65 ° – 105 °; bifurcation point between teeth II and IIIa slightly shallower than the other bifurcation points. Maxilla with approximately 30 setae. Prelabium with 45–50 setae.

Body (thorax and abdomen): Body 20.5–23.5 mm in length (n = 60, mean 22.2 mm) and 11–13 mm in width (mean 11.4 mm); integument with setae gradually decreasing in density posteriorly from the fifth integument (often evenly distributed across all segments); sparse spicules near the rim of spiracles 1 and 10 Spiracles shallow; generally uniform in size, except for spiracles 1, 2, and 10, which are slightly smaller; largest spiracle 0.3 mm in diameter; spiracular rim 0.03 mm in thickness, bearing sparse large processes (0.008 –0.012 mm in length) and dense tiny processes (<0.01 mm in length).

Remarks.

The antenna is typically nearly hyaline, as seen in V. velutina (Fig. 9 D); however, it may be slightly sclerotized, as in V. analis parallela (Fig. 6 C). This condition can vary even within a single colony. This species closely resembles V. velutina in both larval characteristics (Yamane 1976, present study) and adult features (Archer 1994; Carpenter et al. 2013).

Specimens examined.

South Korea • 10 mature larvae; Chungcheongbuk-do, Goesan-gun; 36°48'42"N, 127°47'17"E; 29 Sept. 2022; Choi • 10 mature larvae; Gyeonsangbuk-do, Andong-si; 36°46'12"N, 128°47'48"E; 30 Sept. 2022; Ma • 30 mature larvae; Gyeongsangbuk-do, Yeongju-si; 36°50'09"N, 128°38'50"E; 12 Oct. 2022; Ma • 30 mature larvae; Gyeongsangbuk-do, Yeongyang-gun; 36°43'02"N, 129°05'48"E; 02 Aug. 2023; Choi and Kim • 5 mature larvae; Gyeonsangbuk-do, Yeongcheon-si; 36°04'00"N, 128°55'32"E; 5 Oct. 2023; Choi et al . • 5 mature larvae; Gyeonsangbuk-do, Yeongcheon-si; 36°04'05"N, 128°55'35"E; 5 Oct. 2023; Choi et al . • 10 mature larvae; Gyeonsangbuk-do, Yeongcheon-si; 36°03'35"N, 128°55'16"E; 5 Oct. 2023; Choi et al . • 10 mature larvae; Gangwon-do, Pyeongchang-si; 37°31'34"N, 128°30'08"E; 21 Aug. 2024; Ma and Kim • 15 mature larvae; Jeollanam-do, Gurye-gun; 35°14'40"N, 127°35'40"E; 22 Aug. 2024; Choi and Ma • 10 mature larvae; Gangwon-do, Hoengseong-gun; 37°31'31"N, 128°08'58"E; 5 Sept. 2024; Choi and Ma .