Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 March 2025 | 17(3): 26731–26736
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online)
| ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9457.17.3.26731-26736
#9457 | Received 19
October 2024 | Final received 27 January 2025 | Finally accepted 14 March 2025
Nest predation by Vespa tropica
(Linnaeus, 1758): observational insights into polistine
wasp defense and hornet feeding behavior
Shantam Ojha 1 &
Vartika Negi 2
1 Wildlife Institute of
India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001,
India.
2 Department of
Himalayan Aquatic Biodiversity, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University,
Srinagar, Uttarakhand 246174, India.
1 shantamojha83192@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 vartikanegi001@gmail.com
Editor: P. Girish Kumar, Zoological Survey of India,
Kozhikode, India. Date of publication: 26 March 2025
(online & print)
Citation: Ojha, S. & V. Negi (2025).
Nest predation by Vespa tropica (Linnaeus,
1758): observational insights into polistine wasp defense and hornet feeding behavior. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(3): 26731–26736. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9457.17.3.26731-26736
Copyright: © Ojha & Negi 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Self-funded.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors are thankful to HNB Garhwal University, as the site of observation and appreciate the opportunity to study wasp nest in its natural setting without any disturbance.
Abstract: Vespa tropica (Linnaeus, 1758) is a known predator of polistine wasps, actively hunting them to provision its
larvae. This study reports two separate instances of Vespa tropica Greater Banded Hornet predation on the nests of
two polistine wasp species, the Arabian Paper Wasp Polistes (Gyrostoma)
wattii Cameron, 1900 and Ropalidia
brevita Das & Gupta, 1989, in Uttarakhand,
India. While the predatory behavior of Vespa tropica
on different species of Polistes and Ropalidia has been well-documented in previous
studies, this is the first photographic record of nest predation attempts on Polistes wattii
and Ropalidia brevita.
Additionally, the study documents the first known successful defensive
counterattack by a prey species Polistes wattii, providing novel insight into the defensive
capabilities of prey species against hornet predation.
Keywords: Brood raiding,
cocoon, exoskeleton, Greater Banded Hornet, Polistes,
paper wasp, predator-prey dynamics, prepupae, Ropalidia.
Vespa tropica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), known as the Greater Banded Hornet, is
widespread across southeastern Asia (Archer 1991; Carpenter & Kojima 1997).
Historically, this species was confused with Vespa affinis
Linnaeus 1764, both of which were initially recorded under Vespa cincta Fabricius 1775. Bequaert (1936) clarified their distinction, recognizing
eight different color forms. More recently, Vespa tropica
has been categorized into three species, collectively forming the Vespa tropica superspecies group (Archer 1991). The Indian
subcontinent houses the subspecies Vespa tropica haematodes, which is the subject of this study.
Matsuura & Yamane
(1984) conducted extensive research on vespine wasps,
primarily focusing on temperate subspecies from Japan. Due to its broad
geographic distribution, Vespa tropica
exhibits notable morphological and behavioral differences between its tropical
and temperate subspecies (Matsuura & Yamane 1984). While the ecology of V.
tropica has been studied by many people,
significant knowledge gaps persist regarding its populations in the Indian
subcontinent.
Vespine wasps are highly predatory, consuming two
primary food sources: carbohydrates (tree sap, nectar) and solid protein-based
food (flesh pellets), which are exclusively fed to larvae (Matsuura &
Yamane 1984). Among the vespine species, Vespa tropica is notably specialized, preying mainly on the
larvae and pupae of polistine social wasps (Matsuura
& Yamane 1984). Documented prey includes Ropalidia
spp. Including Ropalidia fasciata (Fabricius, 1804);
Parischnogaster mellyi (de
Saussure, 1852); Stenogaster spp.; Polistes stigma (Fabricius,
1793); Polistes snelleni
(de Saussure, 1862); Polistes japonicus
de Saussure, 1858; Polistes mandarinus de Saussure, 1853; Polistes
jadwigae Dalla Torre,
1904; Polistes rothneyi
Cameron, 1900; Polistes chinensis (Fabricius, 1793); Polistes hebraeus Fabricius, 1787 (syn. Polistes
(Gyrostoma) olivaceus
De Geer, 1773); Polistes jokohamae Radoszkowski, 1887;
Parapolybia varia (Fabricius, 1787); and Parapolybia
indica de Saussure, 1854. There are also
instances of Vespa tropica preying on the
pupae of other Vespa species, such as Vespa simillima
Smith, 1868 (van der Vecht 1957; Matsuura &
Yamane 1984; Chakrovorty et al. 2023). On one
occasion, this species was observed attempting to break open the mud chambers
of a mud dauber wasp Sceliphron javanum Lepeletier, 1845 (van
der Vecht 1957). Though specialized in wasp
predation, V. tropica also preys on other
insects like Skipper Butterflies (Hesperiidae), pyralid and arctiid moths, and caterpillars of Tarsolepis sommeri (Hübner, 1821) (van der Vecht
1957; Matsuura & Yamane 1984). Given the predatory nature of Vespa
species on bees (Singh 1962) Vespa tropica is
likely to prey on various bee species in regions where their habitats overlap.
While some reports suggest its predation on bees, well-documented scientific
studies on this interaction remain limited. Additionally, V. tropica feeds on tree sap, fruits, sugary substances,
and carrion (van der Vecht 1957). Little is known
about the foraging behavior of the Indian subspecies V. tropica
haematodes, though it has been recorded attacking
skipper butterflies, as well as Polistes hebraceus, P. stigma, and P. olivaceus nests in India (Bequaert
1936; van der Vecht 1957; Chakravorty
et al. 2023).
Results and Discussion
A combative
interaction between a solitary Vespa tropica
and a Polistes wattii
was observed on 21 September 2024, around 1030 h. Polistes
wattii species was identified based on its all
yellow body with no black even on the medial part of dorsal sulcus of clypeus
as described by Tan et al. (2014) (Supplementary image 1). The hornet, known
for its predatory behavior on Polistes
species, was seen engaging in an intense encounter with the wasp, eventually
emerging victorious (Image 1, Video 1). This occurred
under an active P. wattii nest on the Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Central University, Chauras
campus in Uttarakhand (30.228°N, 78.804°E). Based on observations over the next
two days, it was inferred that while the hornet managed to subdue multiple
adult wasps and larvae, the paper wasps eventually succeeded in neutralizing
the hornet by day two.
The interaction
between V. tropica and P. wattii lasted around 10 min, after which the hornet
started consuming the thoracic region of the wasp, chewing it into softer
pellet (Image 3). Interestingly, unlike prior reports (van der Vecht 1957), the hornet did not sever the wings or
transport the wasp, indicating that the hornet was not primarily targeting
adults for consumption but was rather involved only in the counterattack by the
wasp. Additional evidence of resistance was supported by the discovery of four
other dead P. wattii wasps near the nest. This
suggests some level of defensive action on behalf of the wasps during the raid.
The observation
revealed that the hornet revisited the nest multiple times over two days, twice
on day one and thrice on the second day, seizing larvae every time with minimal
resistance from the adult wasps. On the first day, after its initial successful
attack, the hornet returned at approximately 1240 h. The wasps displayed panic
but did not resist; they vacated the nest (Image 2), allowing the hornet to
feed without hindrance, which is consistent with the behavior described by
Matsuura & Yamane (1984). The next day we saw the hornet return at 1110 h
with the same intent and with the same results repeating its charge two more
times taking home five pupae or larvae during the observation period (Image 2).
On the third day, the hornet was found dead near the nest, with no visible bite
marks. It is hypothesize that the hornet may have been
fatally stung by a paper wasp, capable of penetrating through its tough
exoskeleton, thus successfully defending the colony. Following this event, the
nest was repopulated by the paper wasp individuals, and no further hornet
incursions were observed for the day.
In another event on 8
October 2023, a Vespa tropica was observed
raiding the nest of a Ropalidia brevita, identified by its proportionally wider first metasomal tergum as described by Kojima et al. (2007) in Chandrabani area of Dehradun, Uttarakhand India (30.278° N,
77.971° E) (Image 4, Video 2). The Ropalidia wasps offered no significant resistance,
allowing the hornet to repeatedly raid their brood and successfully consume
larvae over several visits. As described by Matsuura & Yamane (1984), the
hornet appears to assess the developmental stage of the pupae inside the
cocoons using its antennae it was also observed that the hornets preferred the
prepupae more than the already developed ones, it was tearing open the cocoon
covers to extract the prepupae chewing it into a liquid form, and leaving
behind a hollow husk, which fell beneath the nest. Throughout this process, the
hornet remained suspended by its two pairs of hind legs, while using its
forelegs and mandibles to extract the pupae. Similarly, the hornet made several
raids to the nest uninterrupted and consumed the entire young lot until the whole
nest was empty in a few days. This predation event ultimately led to the
abandonment of the nest by the remaining paper wasps.
Conclusion
Vespa tropica predation on polistine
species, particularly targeting pre-pupae, larvae, and pupae, is
well-documented. While studies by Matsuura & Yamane (1984) suggests that V.
tropica typically avoids adult wasps, the study
observed the hornet engaging in combat with adult Polistes
wattii, this inclines well with the observations
mentioned by Van der Vecht (1957), in this case the
hornet didn’t fly away with the wasp and instead both fell from the nest during
combat, which offered notable resistance and eventually killed the hornet—an
unprecedented event. In contrast, Ropalidia
wasps showed minimal defense.
These interactions
add new prey records for V. tropica as
predation on P. wattii and R.
brevita is not mentioned in prior studies.
Moreover, the observation of V. tropica
feeding on an adult P. wattii is an
unprecedented addition to the species’ known predatory behavior. Although this
behavior might have resulted as a response to the counterattack rather than an
intentional predation on adult wasps, it adds a new dimension to the
understanding of this hornet’s diet. Furthermore, the successful counterattack
by P. wattii represents a significant and
novel observation, indicating that prey species may possess more advanced
defensive strategies than previously recognized. This underscores the need for
a more detailed study of Vespa tropica-Polistes
interactions, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, where ecological
variations may influence predator-prey dynamics.
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