| Oriental hornet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Genus: | Vespa |
| Species: | V. orientalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Vespa orientalis Linnaeus, 1771 |
|
The Oriental hornet Vespa orientalis, is a hornet which looks very similar to the European hornet. It should not be confused with the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia).
It is commonly found in the Mediterranean area, but can also be found in Madagascar and India. [1] However, due to human introduction, its habitat is beginning to spread to South America up to Mexico. [2]
The female queen measures 25 to 35 mm long; males and workers are smaller.
In males, the antennae have 13 segments, while females always have 12.
In 2010 a team of researchers from Israeli and British universities discovered that the yellow stripe in the hornet's abdomen is capable of harvesting the sun's light and converting it into energy. In fact, the main metabolic activity occurs in that yellow pigment layer (i.e. the sun may be its main energy source). The process is made possible by a pigment called xanthopterin. This might explain why the insects are more active during intense sunlight, unlike most hornets.[3]