''Vespa dybowskii'', also known as the black hornet or Dybowski's hornet, is a species of

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

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. It is considered rare or uncommon throughout its range. It has been suggested for attention in the Red Database (vulnerable species) in Japan.

Description

''Vespa dybowskii'' is a small to medium-sized hornet, with workers generally 17 to 24 mm and queens measuring up to 30 mm. Its body is mainly black. Its head and the sides of the thorax are a reddish brown.

Distribution

This species is generally found in temperate areas such as Japan, Russia and Korea, as well as China.

Behaviours

''Vespa dybowskii'' usually nests in above-ground cavities. The nest envelope is usually tubular-imbricate (envelope consisting of sections which run lengthwise). One unique aspect in this species is that it is a social parasite of ''

Vespa crabro The European hornet (''Vespa crabro'') is the largest eusocial wasp native to Europe. It is also the only true hornet (genus ''Vespa'') found in North America, having been introduced to the United States and Canada from Europe as early as 1840. ...

'' and sometimes ''

Vespa simillima ''Vespa simillima'', the yellow hornet, including the color form known as the , is a common hornet Hornets (insects in the genus ''Vespa'') are the largest of the eusocial wasps, and are similar in appearance to their close relatives yello ...

''. The queen of ''Vespa dybowskii'' takes over the nest of the initial species, and somehow induces the workers to raise her own brood. Eggs of ''V. dybowskii'' may survive in foreign species nests partly due to being chemically transparent. ''Vespa dybowskii'' however, can establish the nest either by the independent foundation like as other hornets, but it can also raise young through the usurpation of the nests of ''

'' or ''Vespa simillima''. This species is said to be strongly defensive.

References

{{taxonbar, from1=Q3008870 Insects described in 1884 Vespidae Hymenoptera of Asia