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| European Hornet | |
|---|---|
| |
| A female European hornet | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Genus: | Vespa |
| Species: | V. crabro |
| Binomial name | |
| Vespa crabro Linnaeus, 1761 | |
- For main article see hornet. For the insect known colloquially in America as a hornet see Bald-faced hornet, and similarly for the Australian hornet.
The European hornet Vespa crabro is the largest European eusocial wasp commonly known simply as the "hornet". This is not to be confused with the colloquial use of hornet for the bald-faced hornet, or other yellowjackets. The queen measures 25 to 35 mm long, males and workers are smaller. In males, the antennae have 13 segments, while females have 12. The male's abdomen is composed of 7 visible segments, while that of the female has six; females are equipped with an ovipositor. See wasp and bee characteristics to help identify an insect.
Description
Eyes are deeply indented, shaped like a C. Wings are reddish-orange, the petiolated abdomen is orange striped with brown.
Geographic colour forms
European hornets worldwide are found with geographic colour forms :
- Vespa crabro crabro Linnaeus, 1758
- Vespa crabro vexator Harris, 1776
- Vespa crabro germana Christ, 1791
- Vespa crabro crabroniformis Smith, 1852
- Vespa crabro borealis Radoszkowski, 1863
- Vespa crabro oberthuri du Buysson, 1902
- Vespa crabro flavofasciata Cameron, 1903
- Vespa crabro altaica Pérez, 1910
- Vespa crabro caspica Pérez, 1910
- Vespa crabro chinensis Birula, 1925
Relationship with humans
- Also see hornet#Relationship with humans.
Stings
- Also see hornet#Stings.
Notes
- V. Dubatolov, J. Kojima, J. M. Carpenter, A. Lvovsky (2003). "Subspecies of Vespa crabro in two different papers by Birula in 1925". Entomological Science. 6 (2003): 215–216.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - J.M. Carpenter, J. Kojima (1997). "Checklist of the species in the subfamily Vespinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae)". Natural History Bulletin of Ibaraki University. 1 (1997): 51–92.