Subfamily Vespinae

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Subfamily Vespinae

Introduction

This subfamily is represented in Australia by only two introduced species of the genus, Vespula, that have become established and are spreading throughout eastern Australia. (The species Provespa nocturna was introduced into Queensland, but has not established and is not included here. The two species of Vespula cause concern on medical grounds (there is a risk of severe allergic reaction to the sting) and on economic grounds (damage to hives of honey bees and to fruit). Both species are established in Tasmania and only one in eastern Australia.

These species are eusocial with an egg-laying queen with many thousands of sterile workers in each mature colony. The nest is founded by a single queen usually underground but sometimes in artificial cavities above ground such as in trees or buildings. Nests consist of paper comb surrounded by an envelope with an entrance at the bottom. Adult wasps collect carbohydrates from blossoms and fruit and obtain protein mostly in from insect larvae, honey bees and flies or occasionally from meat or carcasses. Food is masticated and fed progressively to the larvae (Richards 1978; Naumann 1991).

Carpenter (1987) analysed the phylogenetic relationships of the Vespinae and Carpenter & Kojima (1997) provided a checklist of the species with distributional summaries and synonyms. An overview of the biology of the vespines was given by Matsuura & Yamane (1984) and of vespine ethology by Matsuura (1984).