greater banded hornet preying on wasp larvae (Vespa tropica)

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Photo by Scott Frazier

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Description:

A large "greater banded hornet" preying on the larvae of a nest of paper wasps (Polistes sp.) as the adults stand idly by. The hosts of the nest appeared in a previous spotting http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/17515099

Habitat:

Nest on cactus (Cereus repandus) near house located in a large, semi-urban yard & garden, in close proximity to a disturbed patch of remnant lowland forest.

Notes:

I was simply amazed as the paper wasps did not attack to repel this large invader eating their larvae. I was equally amazed that I could get so close to photograph it. I guess the larvae were delicious...

Reference Links:

Vespa tropica - Overview, Hymenoptera-Vespidae ต่อ แตน Wasps, Hornets archive at SIAM INSECT-ZOO & …

Species ID Suggestions

Lesser banded hornet

Vespa affinis

Reference Link

AdamBT

+ vote

Comments (11)

Scott Frazier

Thanks very much, J!

Jacob Gorneau

Awesome spotting, Scott! Thanks for sharing this fantastic encounter!

Scott Frazier

Indeed! :-)

AdamBT

Yes, you're right, I mistook the orange band on yours to be two segments...still, very interesting behaviour!

Scott Frazier

Thanks very much, Adam. Based on your link which says that Vespa affinis is easily distinguished from V. tropica by having orange banding at the second gastral segment while that of the latter (V. tropica) is black... I am guessing mine is V. tropica.

AdamBT

Very cool spotting, looks similar to one of mine: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12476206

Scott Frazier

That's the only thing I can imagine: chemical cloaking device ;-)

Mark Ridgway

Great spotting! The power of pheromones?

Scott Frazier

Thanks Antonio! I was astounded Nance...

auntnance123

That is rather mysterious that the paper wasps made no move at defending the nest.

AntónioGinjaGinja

Great cache S Frazier,in the rigth time :-) congrats and thanks for sharing