The lesser banded hornet is a small to medium-sized hornet, with queens reaching up to 30mm, males 26mm and workers averaging 22 to 25mm. The head is brownish red or black, pubescent, with some red markings on frons and vertex, black temple; compound eyes and ocelli black; dark brown antennae and usually pale brown underneath; black clypeus, coarsely punctate, posterior side of clypeus with broadly rounded lobes; mandibles and tooth black. The photos below show a nest of this species, cut open to reveal four combs. ; F. Saito; J.I. The nest of Vespa affinis may be built high in a tree, although nests are also commonly found lower in small trees and in and around houses. This is a small to medium-sized hornet, with queens reaching 30mm, males 26mm and workers being an average of 22 to 25mm. Legs dark brown. The sides of the head and thorax show some reddish brown. Initially, I assumed they were taking the mussel meat to feed their larvae, but it turned out that they were simply creeping into the mussel shells and hiding there to ambush the flies! They will also collect meat from freshly dead insects. They also love the nectar from flowers of the coconut tree, and often, after drinking their fill, conveniently grab a honeybee from a nearby flower and head for home. Carpenter, L. Kimsey (2020) The diversity of hornets in the genus Archer, M. E. (1997). Provisional Guide to the Social Vespids of Hong Kong (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).Barthélémy, C. (2008). Above: A very large nest in Singapore, built in a very tall tree. Gaster with some fine punctures, dark brown segments except first and second segments yellowish orange. In tropical areas, it remains present all year.A.H. Note the texture of the nest envelope. Recentlyemerged gynes spend some days inside the nest before leaving it to hibernate, as long as 13-14 days in the case of Vespa affinis (Martin 1993). Wings dark fuscous brown, tegulae dark brown.
Provisional Guide to the Social Vespids of Hong Kong (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).Nguyen, L.T.P. The nest of Vespa affinis is usually high in a tree, although on occasion they build lower. Its diet is mainly composed of liquid foods such as nectar from flowers. Carpenter Smith-Pardo, J.M. Kojima & J.M. Taxonomy, distribution and nesting biology of Vespa affinis (L.) and Vespa mocsaryana du Buysson (Hym., Vespinae). It is generally elongated, and looks similar to the nest of Vespa velutina . Nests built in high trees are generally elongated, and look similar to the nest of Vespa velutina.
Living in colonies, Vespa affinis constructs a paper nest which generally hangs from natural structures such as trees or shrubs 6. In some specimens, the yellowish orange on the first tergite may be reduced to two transverse spots and a narrow apical band.There are many color variants across the range of the species, originally considered subspecies but no longer recognized; while there is a history of recognizing subspecies within many of the The lesser banded hornet is widespread throughout tropical and subtropical Asia. Vespa affinis forages close to the ground in grassy areas, forest and wasteland. On the other hand, specimens from Southeast Asian regions such as Singapore are fully black, without reddish brown markings, and the abdominal band is a brilliant orange.This species is widespread throughout Asia.
There are several geographical forms or subspecies; the ones found in Hong Kong and South China are generally mainly black, with the first two abdominal segments being a deep yellow, forming a conspicuous band.
In Singapore, it can frequently be found on the beach, staying near rotting mussels which smell bad and attract flies. It also eats bees and collects meat from freshly dead insects. Also note that many nests of this species get very large, similar to nests of
Nests in buildings are exposed, and are very seldom built in concealed crevices 11. The nest starts as a simple affair, where 4 – 6 cells were constructed at the tip of a stem. In Singapore it preys on flies attracted to carrion. It is found in Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Sumatra, the Philippines (Palawan) and Malaysia.In subtropical Hong Kong, the queens awake from hibernation in April and the colony usually dies in late November or December. Besides these, they will also attack any small insect they can overpower. Barthélémy, C. (2008). This species seems to prey heavily on flies which can be pests. It has a versatile diet of both carbohydrates such as tree sap, nectar, fruits and larvae saliva and proteinaceous food such as carrion, paper wasps (Polistinae) and bees (Apidae)).