Copyedited by: OUP Insect Systematics and Diversity, (2020) 4(3): 2; 1–27 doi: 10.1093/isd/ixaa006 Taxonomy Research The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus Vespa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance and Interceptions in the United States Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/isd/article-abstract/4/3/2/5834678 by USDA/APHIS/NWRC user on 02 June 2020 Allan H. Smith-Pardo,1,4 James M. Carpenter,2 and Lynn Kimsey3 1USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Science and Technology (S&T), Sacramento, CA, 2Department of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 3Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, and 4Corresponding author, e-mail:
[email protected] Subject Editor: Heather Hines Received 20 December, 2019; Editorial decision 11 March, 2020 Abstract Hornets in the genus Vespa (Vespidae, Vespinae) are social wasps. They are primarily predators of other in- sects, and some species are known to attack and feed on honeybees (Apis mellifera L.), which makes them a serious threat to apiculture. Hornet species identification can be sometimes difficult because of the amount of intraspecific color and size variation. This has resulted in many species-level synonyms, scattered literature, and taxonomic keys only useful for local populations. We present a key to the world species, information on each species, as well as those intercepted at United States Ports of Entry during the last decade. Images of all the species and some of the subspecies previously described are also included. Resumen Los avispones (Vespidae: Vespinae: Vespa) son avispas sociales, depredadoras de otros insectos y algunas de las especies muestran cierta preferencia por abejas, incluyendo las abejas melíferas (Apis mellifera L.) convirtiéndose en una amenaza para la apicultura.