''Vespa analis'', the yellow-vented hornet, is a species of common

hornet Hornets (insects in the genus ''Vespa'') are the largest of the eusocial wasps, and are similar in appearance to their close relatives yellowjackets. Some species can reach up to in length. They are distinguished from other vespine wasps by th ...

found in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...

Description

This species varies in colours and patterns, in Southeast Asia, they are usually black with a yellow marking on the tip of the abdomen (the sixth segment) In Singapore, they are coloured slightly lighter, with red or brown heads and pronotums."Vespa analis" at http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid/vespa-analis.htm accessed on the 11th October 2020. Specimens from sub-tropical, mountainous or temperate areas have yellow heads. In areas where they occur with the Asian giant hornet, they tend to resemble a similar colour and pattern to the Asian Giant Hornet.

Distribution

This species is one of the most widely distributed hornets. It can be found in temperate areas such as Japan, Russia and Korea, and is also found over much of China and Taiwan, down to tropical regions like Singapore and Indonesia.

Behaviours

Vespa analis is a typical tree-dwelling hornet. Its nests are generally built from six to ten feet above ground, lower than those of ''

Vespa affinis ''Vespa affinis'', the lesser banded hornet, is a common hornet in tropical and subtropical Asia. Description The lesser banded hornet is a small to medium-sized hornet, with queens reaching up to 30mm, males 26mm and workers averaging 22 to 25 ...

'' and ''

Vespa velutina The Asian hornet (''Vespa velutina''), also known as the yellow-legged hornet or Asian predatory wasp, is a species of hornet indigenous to Southeast Asia. It is of concern as an invasive species in some other countries. Appearance ''Vespa vel ...

''. The nest envelope is usually quite dark and sturdy, and has a coarsely imbricate pattern, with large, obvious overlapping circular sections. In temperate areas, the nest gets only very slightly oval, and the colony size is generally not very large. However, nests in the tropics reach substantial sizes. There is also the same variation seen in nests of ''

''; nests in tropical regions are tapered from the top and get wider further down. Their diet is relatively similar to other hornet species of Southeast Asia, catching butterflies, honeybees and dragonflies. However, unlike some hornet species in Southeast Asia, they do not scavenge on dead animals or food left behind by people. Vespa analis nest

This species is generally considered to be one of the least defensive species. However, in Japan, it is responsible for quite a number of attacks, due to its abundance and its fondness for building near human habitation.

Life cycle

This species appears to have a fairly long colony cycle, as workers have been spotted trying to hunt in early January, indicating that some nests still have brood or new queens then.

References

Sources

"Vespa analis" at http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid/vespa-analis.htm accessed on the 11th October 2020 {{Taxonbar, from=Q3556335 Insects described in 1798 Vespidae Hymenoptera of Asia Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius