Vespa mandarinia Cameron, 1852

Kim, Jaehee, Kwon, Oh-Seok, Yamane, Seiki & Choi, Moon Bo, 2025, Comparative morphological analysis of mature larvae of eight Vespa Linnaeus, 1758 species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in South Korea, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98, pp. 435-465 : 435-465

Vespa mandarinia Cameron, 1852

Description.

Head (Fig. 3 ): CW / MW = 1.29–1.42 (n = 45, mean 1.39). Cranium moderately rugo-reticulated and transversely wrinkled. Antenna (ant) located at mid-height on the cranium, distinctly posterior to the dorsal margin of the clypeus (Fig. 3 D, E ), measuring 0.08 mm in width; antennal rim thin yet distinct, with weak ventrolateral margins (indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3 H ), and well-defined in other regions. Temporal band (tmb) clearly visible (Fig. 3 D, E, G ), with a narrow zone along its inner margin heavily pigmented with ferruginous coloration, except in the dorsal and ventral thirds. Ventral and dorsal edges distinctly margined, with remaining portions vaguely defined; ventral edge positioned slightly above the level of the dorsal margin of the antenna. Region around the frontal suture (fs) dorsally bearing setae (n = 7–12); frons (fr), except for the area near the fs, bearing several setae; frontal sutures originating from the mid-cranial sulcus (mcs) (Fig. 3 E ); paired suprafrontal marks (psm) well-defined (Fig. 3 E ). Faint dotted patches on the frons (Fig. 3 E ). Clypeus as depicted in Fig. 3 D, E, G ; main disc transverse, with a width exceeding the minimum distance between the antennae; dorsal margin shallowly and roundly convex and dorsolateral corners semi-angulate; lateral margin, which houses the tentorial pit, straight and without a pigmented spot; main disc relatively low, with a CLI of 1.5–2; main disc with approximately 80 setae. Labrum as shown in Fig. 3 B, C, F (left), with numerous sensory bristles on its lower half. Palate (Fig. 3 C, F : right) with or without a median patch (mpt) of variable size; sclerotized patch (sp, Fig. 3 F ) extending toward the dorsolateral corner of the palate, measuring approximately half the palate width; median area with dense conical papillae (cp), with the papillae sparser in the lateral area more sparsely distributed. Largest conical papilla approximately 0.03 mm in width and positioned ventrally on the palate. Spicules (spi) distributed on the medioventral portion and along the lateral margins of the palate. Mandible (md) with three teeth (Fig. 3 A, D, I ), which are heavily sclerotized with blunt apices; outer surface of the mandible entirely covered with numerous pits. Mandibular teeth I and II distinctly more projected than tooth III, which is apically bifid; Tooth I as long as tooth II, whereas tooth IIIb slightly more prominent than IIIa. Tooth I separated from II at an angle of 40 ° – 70 °, II from IIIa at 50 ° – 70 °, and IIIa from IIIb at 70 ° – 105 °. Tooth I slightly broader than II and ventrally thick; tooth II with a smooth ventral margin and a minutely gibbous dorsal margin; bifurcation point of teeth II and IIIa slightly deeper than other bifurcation points (Fig. 3 H ). Maxilla with approximately 25 setae, with those near the palpus being 1.5 times longer than those on other parts. Prelabium with approximately 30 setae.

Body (thorax and abdomen): Body 26–35 mm in length (n = 45, mean 31.2 mm) and 13–19 mm in width (mean 15.7 mm); integument with sparse setae and widely spaced, short spicules. Spiracles deep, generally uniform in size except for spiracles 1, 2, and 10, which are slightly smaller; largest spiracle 0.65 mm in diameter; rim of spiracle 0.06 mm in thickness, consisting of distinct, elongated processes; inner part with short and thick atrial processes.

Remarks.

In this species, the CW / MW ratio is consistently below 1.45. Yamane (1976) also used this smaller CW / MW ratio to distinguish V. mandarinia from other Vespa species. The median patch on the palate is absent in the Japanese and Taiwanese populations of V. mandarinia ( Yamane 1976) ; however, some Korean specimens examined in this study exhibited this feature. Although this characteristic varied among our Korean samples, it remains unclear whether it is stable in the Japanese and Taiwanese populations.

Specimens examined.

South Korea • 15 mature larvae; Gwangju; 35°11'48"N, 126°53'24"E; 20 Oct. 2021; Choi and Kim • 5 mature larvae; Ulsan; 35°28'29"N, 129°11'30"E; 14 Sept. 2022; Ma • 30 mature larvae; Gyeongsangbuk-do, Uiseong-gun ; 36°22'39"N, 128°38'08"E; 01 Sept. 2023; Choi and Kim • 5 mature larvae; Gyeonsangbuk-do, Uiseong-gun ; 36°23'44"N, 128°26'44"E; 12 Sept. 2023; Ma • 10 mature larvae; Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongju-si ; 35°49'11"N, 129°18'16"E; 08 Aug. 2024; Ma • 10 mature larvae; Gangwon-do, Taebaek-si ; 37°10'15"N, 128°58'16"E; 11 Sept. 2024; Choi • 15 mature larvae; Daejeon; 36°16'30"N, 127°22'33"E; 20 Sept. 2024; Choi and Kim • 20 mature larvae; Gyeongsangnam-do, Jinju-si ; 35°11'10"N, 128°09'36"E; 4 Oct. 2024; Ma • 5 mature larvae; Gyeongsangbuk-do, Andong-si ; 36°36'36"N, 128°48'55"E; 18 Oct. 2024; Choi .

Figures

Figure 3. Vespa mandarinia A apical portion of the right mandible, with the arrow indicating pits B left half of the labrum in ventrofrontal view C two examples of the labrum (ventral view), with the median patch circled D, E head in frontal view F labrum (left) and palate (right) in frontal view G relative positions of the temporal band, antenna (arrow), and clypeus, with a thick double-headed arrow indicating the distance between the dorsal margin of the clypeus and the ventral margin of the antenna H apical portion of the mandible, showing the configuration of the teeth. (For abbreviations, see Terminology.) Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C, F, H); 0.3 mm (D, E, G).