Vespa analis

Vespa analis, the yellow-vented hornet is a species of common hornet. Vespa analis can be found in Southeast Asia.

 Taxonomy 
This species has no subspecies. At least two other described species are considered the same as this one.

 Description 
V. analis can have different colors and patterns. In Southeast Asia, they are normally black with a yellow marking on the tip of the abdomen (the sixth part of the body). In Singapore, they are colored slightly lighter. There they have red or brown heads and pronotums."Vespa analis" at http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid/vespa-analis.htm accessed on 11 October 2020. Specimens from subtropical, mountainous or temperate areas have yellow heads. In areas where they live together with the Asian giant hornet, V. analis tends to look like the giant hornet.

 Distribution 
This species is one of the most widely known hornets. It can be found in temperate areas such as Japan, Russia and Korea. However, it 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. This is lower than those of Vespa affinis and Vespa velutina. The nest envelope is usually dark and sturdy. In temperate areas, the nest gets only very slightly oval. The colony size is typically not very large. However, nests in the tropics reach substantial sizes.

Thy eat the same as other hornet species of Southeast Asia. They catch butterflies, honeybees and dragonflies. Unlike other hornet species in Southeast Asia, they do not eat dead animals or food left behind by people. 
This species is one of the least defensive species. Despite that, in Japan, it is responsible for several attacks, because it settles often near human population.

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

 References 

 Further readings 
 "Vespa analis" at http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid/vespa-analis.htm accessed on 11 October 2020

Category:Insects