Traditional rearing techniques of the edible Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia Smith) and its socio-economic perspective in Nagaland, India

Kiewhuo, Patricia; Mozhui, Lobeno; Kakati, L. N.; Lirikum,; Meyer‐Rochow, Victor Benno

doi:10.3920/jiff2021.0088

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…Individuals of both giant hornet species are equally large. V. soror workers were mean 3.2 cm long from their head to the tip of the abdomen (range 2.7-3.7 cm; Figure 5B), which is comparable to similarly measured V. mandarinia workers [data from two V. mandarinia nests: mean 3.0 cm, range 2.2-3.7 cm, n = 138 workers (70)]. Any size differences between these two species may be an effect of climatic differences.…”

Section: Nestsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Vespa mandarinia nests are most commonly found in forests and near "green spaces" (25,46,78,79), which is similar to the type of habitat where V. soror nests were discovered in Hong Kong (32) and Vietnam (by LTP Nguyen). The vast majority of V. mandarinia nests are subterranean (3,22,25), with rare reports above ground (20,46,70,72), and present indications are that V. soror has a subterranean nesting preference as well. Lee (32) observed a few colonies that appeared to be living aboveground in human-built structures, but he could not confirm nest presence.…”

Section: Nestmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…In central Japan, worker numbers typically peak in September at a few hundred adults [e.g., mean 179, maximum 514 workers (25); maximum 540 workers (72)] and in November for reproductive adults [e.g., mean 74 and maximum 396 gynes; mean 74 and maximum 284 males (25)]. Vespa mandarinia colonies in northern Japan had no more than a couple hundred individuals at maturity (46), which is approximately the size of the largest invasive V. mandarinia colonies captured in the United States (70). Lee (32) did not census the number of individuals in V. soror colonies in Hong Kong, but his impression was that colonies were large based on entrance activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A larger sample of 15 colonies from the same region, made in October, yielded a mean nest size of 2,712 (± 985 SD) cells (25). Two mature nests from northern Japan had only 675 and 1,141 cells (46), and four mature nests collected at a similar latitude on the west coast of North America ranged from 418-1,329 cells each (70), suggesting a possible increasing size gradient for giant hornet nests as habitats warm toward the equator (30). Across accounts, mature V. mandarinia nests consist of four to ten combs (23,25,46,70,71), which is in line with the comb number observed for the V. soror nests described to date.…”

Section: Nestmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two mature nests from northern Japan had only 675 and 1,141 cells (46), and four mature nests collected at a similar latitude on the west coast of North America ranged from 418-1,329 cells each (70), suggesting a possible increasing size gradient for giant hornet nests as habitats warm toward the equator (30). Across accounts, mature V. mandarinia nests consist of four to ten combs (23,25,46,70,71), which is in line with the comb number observed for the V. soror nests described to date. Vespine nests are known to vary considerably for the same species within the same region and depending on nest site (3), and cells are reused for larval rearing (46), so more information is necessary to determine whether the size of the nest itself (cell number) can reflect the potential for colony size (number of individuals) as much as the duration of the annual cycle does.…”

Section: Nestmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biology of the southern giant hornet, Vespa soror: nest architecture, morphological differences among castes, and the genetic structure of colonies

et al. 2023

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Giant hornets in the genus Vespa are apex predators that are known throughout Asia for their exceptional size and devastating group attacks on social insect colonies. The giant hornets include Vespa mandarinia, a well-studied and widespread temperate species, and Vespa soror, a poorly known sister species that is limited to subtropical and tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Both species have been recently documented on the west coast of North America, raising urgent questions about their potential impact in novel ecosystems. To better understand the biology of V. soror, we describe the nest architecture, caste morphology, and genetic structure of colonies collected in Vietnam. Comparisons of colony metrics between the two giant hornet species suggest important differences that are likely a consequence of the relatively warmer climate in which V. soror occurs. Like V. mandarinia, V. soror constructs large, underground nests of partially enveloped horizontal combs. However, compared to temperate V. mandarinia colonies, the longer nesting period of subtropical V. soror colonies likely resulted in relatively larger colony sizes and nests by the end of their annual cycle. Vespa soror workers and gynes were larger than males, distinguishable based on wing shape and body size (total length and measures of six body parts), and equivalent in size to female castes of V. mandarinia. We genotyped colony members from three mature nests, which revealed that males and females were offspring of singly mated queens. Two colonies were monogynous, but one colony was comprised of two unrelated matrilines. Polygyny has not been observed for V. mandarinia, but is more common in tropical hornet species. Our study sheds light on essential details about the biology of an understudied species of giant hornet, whose populous colonies and long nesting period suggest the potential for substantial ecological impact wherever they occur.

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Section: Nestsupporting

confidence: 78%