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Insects
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Systematic and Biological Studies on Hymenoptera: Vespidae
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Systematic and Biological Studies on Hymenoptera: Vespidae

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3213

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marcel Gustavo Hermes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Estudos em Sistemática e Biologia de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Caixa Postal 3037, Lavras 37200-900, Brazil
Interests: Vespidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera); ecology; biology; systematics
Prof. Dr. Tingjing Li

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Control and Utilization, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
Interests: Vespidae; Tiphiidae; taxonomy; systematics; evolution
Prof. Dr. James Michael Carpenter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5102, USA
Interests: phylogenetic relationships; taxonomy and behavior of Hymenoptera, especially Vespidae

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vespid wasps have been the subject of systematic, evolution, biological, and behavioral investigations for more than two centuries, and, as their representatives include solitary to highly complex social systems, the group has been treated as key in our understanding of the origin and evolution of social behavior. Nevertheless, there are contrasting hypotheses regarding the rise of social life within vespids, and the continued use of molecular data has pointed towards a dual origin of this trait. Despite recent advances in our general knowledge of this group, basic yet fundamental systematic (taxonomic) treatments are still greatly needed, especially concerning solitary vespids found in tropical areas of the globe. For this Special Issue of Insects, authors are invited to contribute original articles covering the systematics, evolution, biology, and behavior of vespid wasps. We encourage papers providing species descriptions in a revisional context. This Special Issue will include original work from experts around the globe, embracing different aspects of this specific and important group of wasps.  

Prof. Dr. Marcel Gustavo Hermes
Prof. Dr. Tingjing Li
Prof. Dr. James Michael Carpenter
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pollen wasps
  • Eumeninae
  • Zethinae
  • paper wasps
  • hornets
  • yellowjackets
  • classification
  • phylogeny

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3704 KB  
Article
Seasonal Dynamics and Nest Characterization of Vespa orientalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Apiaries: Insights from Bait Trap Capture Efficiency
by Sabreen G. El-Gohary, Abd El-Aziz M. A. Mohsen, Mohammed A. I. Youssif, Lamya Ahmed Alkeridis, Laila A. Al-Shuraym, Samy Sayed, Mustafa Shukry and Sherin M. M. Y. Helaly
Insects 2026, 17(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17010058 - 1 Jan 2026
Viewed by 525
Abstract
This study investigated the population dynamics of Vespa orientalis L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) across two consecutive seasons (2023–2024) in selected apiaries, with a focus on nest composition (eggs, larvae, and pupae) and the effectiveness of various bait traps for capturing the species. Monthly monitoring [...] Read more.
This study investigated the population dynamics of Vespa orientalis L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) across two consecutive seasons (2023–2024) in selected apiaries, with a focus on nest composition (eggs, larvae, and pupae) and the effectiveness of various bait traps for capturing the species. Monthly monitoring revealed the highest population peaks in October and the lowest in December. Notable inter-seasonal variations in population density were observed across the studied sites. The average number of individuals per nest varied between seasons, reflecting fluctuations in colony development and environmental factors. In 2023, the mean counts of cells, eggs, larvae, and pupae per nest were 30.14, 18.77, 13.33, and 20.88, respectively, while in 2024, they were 10.55, 14.81, 18.02, and 30.43. Among the tested attractants, grape juice proved the most effective, capturing an average of 511.67 hornets, followed by black honey (422.33 hornets), whereas the capturing trap caught only 5 hornets. These findings provide insights into the seasonal activity and reproductive status of V. orientalis and support the development of environmentally friendly capture strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematic and Biological Studies on Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
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9 pages, 1170 KB  
Article
Foraging Patterns of Two Sympatric Wasp Species: The Worldwide Invasive Polistes dominula and the Native Hypodynerus labiatus
by Sabrina Moreyra and Mariana Lozada
Insects 2026, 17(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17010038 - 27 Dec 2025
Viewed by 480
Abstract
Invasive insects pose significant ecological challenges due to their interactions with other species, which can have a considerable impact on pre-existent ecosystems. In the present study, we analysed the foraging behaviour of the invasive Polistes dominula, which was first detected in NW [...] Read more.
Invasive insects pose significant ecological challenges due to their interactions with other species, which can have a considerable impact on pre-existent ecosystems. In the present study, we analysed the foraging behaviour of the invasive Polistes dominula, which was first detected in NW Patagonia in 2003, and the native wasp Hypodynerus labiatus. We evaluated their foraging behaviour in two types of environments: closed habitats with dense vegetation and open habitats without surrounding bushes and trees. Additionally, we recorded the wasps’ feeding choices at three different heights within each context. Our results showed that these sympatric wasps prefer to forage in different environments and in distinct microsite strata within each environment. Polistes dominula collected food from the ground level in both open and closed habitats, while H. labiatus was more frequently observed in closed areas, gathering resources from higher strata. The observed differences suggest that the collecting sites showed minimal overlap, which may facilitate their coexistence. These findings shed new light on the behavioural processes and interspecific interactions between a highly invasive wasp and a poorly studied native species that inhabit urban and semi urban environments in Patagonia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematic and Biological Studies on Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
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13 pages, 3200 KB  
Article
Nest Architecture Drives Sex-Specific Emergence Success in a Predator Wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Discoelius wangi)
by Xue-Li Xie, Hai-Xia Lu, Michael Orr, Ting-Ting Du, Jing-Ting Chen, Xiao-Yu Shi, Rui Cheng, Qing-Song Zhou, Arong Luo, Chao-Dong Zhu and Peng-Fei Guo
Insects 2025, 16(12), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16121197 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 700
Abstract
Predatory insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Among them, members of the subfamily Zethinae, as natural enemies of herbivorous pests, have reproductive success closely linked to nest architecture, as this limits their prey items. We set up trap nests for [...] Read more.
Predatory insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Among them, members of the subfamily Zethinae, as natural enemies of herbivorous pests, have reproductive success closely linked to nest architecture, as this limits their prey items. We set up trap nests for Discoelius wangi Yamane, 1996 in a subtropical forest in southwestern China to investigate the effects of nest architecture parameters (number of intercalary cells, nest diameter, and vestibule length) on the number of brood cells, the quantity of male and female offspring, and emergence rate via generalized linear models and hierarchical partitioning. The results showed that for the number of nest cells, only the number of intercalary cells had a significant positive effect. For the quantity of male and female offspring, nest diameter, and the number of intercalary cells had significant positive effects on female offspring, while males were only significantly positively affected by the number of intercalary cells. For emergence rates, female emergence rate was marginally significantly affected by nest diameter, male emergence rate was marginally significantly affected by the number of intercalary cells, and total emergence rate was significantly influenced by vestibular length and the number of intercalary cells. This study indicates that D. wangi can adjust its nest characteristics to achieve precise regulation of reproductive performance. The results not only enhance our understanding of how human activities affect predatory insects in forest ecosystems but also provide a scientific basis for developing effective conservation and utilization strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematic and Biological Studies on Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
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Review

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18 pages, 2184 KB  
Review
Biological Characteristics and Rearing Techniques for Vespid Wasps with Emphasis on Vespa mandarinia
by Lijuan Lv, Juan Du, Guoliang Wei, Yu Tian and Shangwei Li
Insects 2025, 16(12), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16121231 - 6 Dec 2025
Viewed by 824
Abstract
Vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) represent ecologically and economically significant insect resources, possessing extremely high nutritional and medicinal value. In response to escalating market demand and declining wild populations, artificial indoor rearing of vespid wasps has emerged as a sustainable strategy. This approach not [...] Read more.
Vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) represent ecologically and economically significant insect resources, possessing extremely high nutritional and medicinal value. In response to escalating market demand and declining wild populations, artificial indoor rearing of vespid wasps has emerged as a sustainable strategy. This approach not only helps conserve and utilize this valuable resource, supporting traditional medicine and local cuisine, but also contributes to invasive species control in affected regions. The large-scale rearing of wasps must integrate their biological characteristics with advanced rearing technologies to achieve rational rearing practices, while continuously optimizing management models. This article systematically reviews the biological characteristics of wasps, traditional rearing methods, and the current status of wasp rearing. It focuses on the methods and key technologies for the outdoor rearing of Vespa mandarinia and year-round indoor rearing. Additionally, it discusses the advantages of artificial indoor rearing, identifies critical technical challenges, and provides a summary and outlook on the future development trends, aiming to provide theoretical support for the large-scale and industrialized development of indoor wasp rearing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematic and Biological Studies on Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
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