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56. Vespa affinis (Linnaeus, 1764) Apis affinis Linnaeus, 1764: 417. Type data: Female, ZMUU. Type locality: “in Calidis regionibus” (Oriental Region). Vespa affinis Fabricius, 1787: 287. Vespa unifasciata Olivier, 1792: 677. Vespa alduini Guérin-Méneville, 1831: 264. Vespa bimaculata Guérin-Méneville, 1838: 264. Vespa nigripennis de Saussure, 1854: 156. Vespa cincta var. picea du Buysson, 1905a (1904): 537. Vespa indosinensis Pérez, 1910: 8. Vespa formosana Sonan, 1927: 125. Vespa affinis var. continentalis Bequaert, 1936: 350. Vespa affinis var. hainanensis Bequaert, 1936: 349. Vespa affinis nigriventris van der Vecht, 1957: 29. Vespa affinis archboldi van der Vecht, 1957: 32. Vespa affinis rufonigrans van der Vecht, 1957: 29. Vespa affinis moluccana van der Vecht, 1957: 32. Vespa affinis alticincta van der Vecht, 1957: 33. Distribution: Bhutan: Chhukha, Samdrup Jongkhar (Dorji, Gyeltshen, et al. 2017; Dorji, Klein, et al. 2017a). Elsewhere: India; Nepal; Bangladesh; Myanmar; Sri Lanka; China; Thailand; Laos; Cambodia; Vietnam; Malaysia; Singapore (Archer 2012; Daglio 2019; Das & Gupta 1983, 1989; Dorji, Gyeltshen, et al. 2017; Dorji, Klein, et al. 2017a; Gawas et al. 2020; Ghosh et al. 2020; Gusenleitner 2006; Kumar, Kundu, et al. 2015; Kumar, Mazumdar & Pham 2015; Kumar & Sharma 2014a; Nguyen, Saito, Kojima & Carpenter 2006; Nugroho 2012; Pham & Li 2015; Smith-Pardo et al. 2020; Sora et al. 2019; van der Vecht 1959)., Published as part of Dorji, Phurpa, Nidup, Tshering, Klein, Wim, Dorji, Cheten, Daglio, Anthony & Gyeltshen, Choki, 2022, An annotated checklist of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea) of Bhutan with new records, pp. 301-332 in Zootaxa 5150 (3) on page 321, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5150.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6622906, {"references":["van der Vecht, J. (1957) The Vespinae of the Indo-Malayan and Papuan areas (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Zoologische Verhandelingen, 34, 1 - 83.","Archer, M. E. (2012) Vespine Wasps of the World: Behaviour, Ecology & Taxonomy of the Vespinae. Monograph Series 4. SIRI Scientific Press, Manchester, 352 pp.","Daglio, A. (2019) Yellowjackets of the World Taxonomy, Distribution, and Nesting Biology. Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, Mauritius, 377 pp.","Das, B. P. & Gupta, V. K. (1983) A catalogue of the families Stenogastridae and Vespidae from the Indian subregion (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea). Oriental Insects, 17 (1), 395 - 464. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00305316.1983.10433698","Das, B. P. & Gupta, V. K. (1989) The social wasps of India and the adjacent countries. Oriental Insects Monograph, 11, 1 - 292. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00305316.1989.11835532","Gawas, S. M., Kumar, P. G., Pannure, A., Gupta, A. & Carpenter, J. M. (2020) An annotated distributional checklist of Vespidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea) of India. Zootaxa, 4784 (1), 1 - 87. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4784.1.1","Ghosh, D., Kumar, P. G., Tripathy, B. & Chandra, K. (2020) An updated checklist of Vespidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from Arunachal Pradesh, India with new distributional records from the State. Halteres, 11, 36 - 43. https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 4042968","Gusenleitner, J. (2006) Uber Aufsammlungen von Faltenwespen in Indien (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Linzer Biologische Beitrage, 38 (1), 677 - 695.","Kumar, P. G., Mazumdar, P. C. & Pham, P. H. (2015) New records of hornet wasps of the genus Vespa Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) from Indian states and Bangladesh. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 115 (Part- 2), 215 - 219.","Kumar, P. G. & Sharma, G. (2014 a) Taxonomic studies on vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Vespidae) of Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal, India. Part 1. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 114 (Part- 4), 563 - 580.","Nguyen, L. T. P., Kojima, J. I., Saito, F. & Carpenter, J. M. (2006) Vespidae (Hymenoptera) of Vietnam 3: Synoptic key to Vietnamese species of the polistine genus Ropalidia, with notes on taxonomy and distribution. Entomological Science, 9, 93 - 107. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1479 - 8298.2006.00157. x","Pham, P. H. & Li, T. J. (2015) A first list of vespid wasps from Vietnam (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Russian Entomological Journal, 24 (2), 133 - 144. https: // doi. org / 10.15298 / rusentj. 24.2.05","Smith-Pardo, A. H., Carpenter, J. M. & Kimsey, L. (2020) The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus Vespa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance and Interceptions in the United States. Insect Systematics and Diversity, 4 (3), 1 - 17. https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / isd / ixaa 006","Sora, K., Gawas, S. M., Gupta, A. & Shaw, S. S. (2019) Checklist of vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of Arunachal Pradesh, India, with a new distribution record of Vespula flaviceps (Smith). Journal of Biological Control, 33 (4), 336 - 342. https: // doi. org / 10.18311 / jbc / 2019 / 24148","van der Vecht, J. (1959) Notes on Oriental Vespinae, including some species from China and Japan (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Zoologische Mededelingen, XXXVI (13), 205 - 232."]}

267) Vespa affinis (Linnaeus, 1764) Apis affinis Linnaeus, 1764: 417. Type data: Female, ZMUU. Type locality: “in Calidis regionibus” (Oriental Region). Vespa indosinensis Perez, 1910:8. Type data: Lectotype female, MNHN. Type locality: Annam. Vespa affinis affinis; Bequaert, 1936: 347. Vespa affinis continentalis Bequaert, 1936: 350. Type data: Holotype female, USNM. Type locality: Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Material examined. INDIA: Arunachal Pradesh: Pasighat, 12.xi.2014, 1♀, Coll. Poorani. Kerala: Trivandrum, 23.v.2019, 2♀, Coll. M. Mohan. Karnataka: Bengaluru: NBAIR Hebbal, 16.x.2016, 3♂, Coll. Sandesh Gawas; Yelahanka, 20.i.2017, 1 ♀, Coll. Sandesh Gawas; IIHR, 6.v.2012, 1 ♀, Coll. P.M. Viyolla; Hebbal Bengaluru; 11.xii.2014, 1 ♀, Coll. Umesh; Nandigrama, 6.v.2014, 1 ♀, Coll. Umeshkumar; Savandurga, 4.x.2018, 1 ♀, Coll. Sandesh Gawas. Distribution. India: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal. Elsewhere: Bangladesh; Bhutan; China; Cambodia; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Vietnam. (van der Vecht 1959c, Chan 1972, Das & Gupta 1984 & 1989, Jonathan et al. 1996, Gusenleitner 2006, Nguyen et al. 2006b, Girish Kumar & Sharma 2014b, Girish Kumar et al. 2015c, Dorji et al. 2017b)., Published as part of Gawas, Sandesh M., Kumar, Girish, Pannure, Arati, Gupta, Ankita & Carpenter, James M., 2020, An annotated distributional checklist of Vespidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea) of India, pp. 1-87 in Zootaxa 4784 (1) on page 63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4784.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3862319, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1764) Museum S: ae Riae Mitis Ludovicae Ulricae reginae Syecorum, Gothorum, Vandalorumque & c. & c. & c. In quo animalia rariora, exotica, imprimis insecta et conchilia describuntur et determinantur prodomi instar editum. Salvius, Holmiae, 720 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 119811","Perez, J. (1910) Notes sur les vespides. Actes de la Societe linneenne de Bordeaux, 64, 1 - 20.","Bequaert, J. C. (1936) The common Oriental hornets, Vespa tropica and Vespa affinis and their color forms. Treubia, 15, 329 - 351.","van der Vecht, J. (1959 c) Notes on Oriental Vespinae, including some species from China and japan (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Zoologische Mededelingen, 13, 205 - 232.","Das, B. P. & Gupta, V. K. (1984) A catalogue of the families Stenogastridae and Vespidae from the Indian subregion (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea). Oriental Insects, 17 (1), 395 - 464. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00305316.1983.10433698","Das, B. P. & Gupta, V. K. (1989) The social wasps of India and the adjacent countries. Oriental Insects Monograph, 11, 1 - 292. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00305316.1989.11835532","Jonathan, J. K., Roy, S. B. & Kundu, B. G. (1996) Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae. Zoological Survey of India, State Fauna Series, Fauna of West Bengal, 3 (8), 149 - 184.","Gusenleitner, J. (2006) Uber Aufsammlungen von Faltenwespen in Indien (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Linzer Biologische Beitrage, 38 (1), 677 - 695.","Nguyen, L. T. P., Saito, F., Kojima, J. & Carpenter, J. M. (2006 b) Vespidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera) 2. Taxonomic notes on Vespinae. Zoological Science, 23 (4), 95 - 104. https: // doi. org / 10.2108 / zsj. 23.95","Girish Kumar, P. & Sharma, G. (2014 b) Taxonomic studies on vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Vespidae) of Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal, India Part 1. Records of Zoological Survey of India, 114 (4), 563 - 580.","Girish Kumar, P., Mazumdar, P. C. & Phong, H. P. (2015 c) New records of hornet wasps of the genus Vespa Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) from Indian States and Bangladesh. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, 115 (2), 215 - 219.","Dorji, P., Gyeltshen, T., Klein, W. & Nidup, T. (2017 b) New records of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespinae: Vespa and Provespa) from Bhutan. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 9 (4), 10102 - 10108. https: // doi. org / 10.11609 / jott. 2423.9.4.10102 - 10108"]}

Vespa affinis (Linnaeus, 1764) (Figs. 4, 26) Apis affinis Linnaeus, 1764: 417. Vespa affinis rufonigrans van der Vecht, 1957: 28. Specimens examined. Sulawesi I.: North Sulawesi: 1 ♀ (MZB), 4.iv.1985; 2 ♀ (MZB), alt. ca. 210 m, 47 km WSW Kotomobagu, Domoga-Bone NP [ca. 00˚44’S 124˚19’E], v.1985; 1 ♀ (MZB), 51 m SW Kotomobagu, 21.v.1985; 2 ♀ (IUNH), 01°30’N 125°11’E, Tangkoko, 26.xi.1999, JK; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 01°28’N 124°51’E, Manado, 28.xi.1999, JK; Central Sulawesi: 16 ♀, 8 ♂ (MZB; paratypes of Vespa affinis rufonigrans), Palu [ca. 00˚54’S 119˚53’E], C. Frassen [16 ♀, 4 ♂, i.1937; 4 ♀, ii.1937]; South East Sulawesi: North Kolaka: 1 ♂ (MZB), 03˚38’S 121˚04’E, alt. ca. 185 m, Rante Angin, Tinukari, 4.viii.2009, RU et al. Indonesian Archipelago other than Sulawesi I.: Sumatra I.: Jambi: 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (IUNH), 02°03’S 101°22’E, alt. ca. 825 m, Bukit Sentiong, Sungai Penuh, 21.v.2017, AH; 5 ♀ (IUNH), 02°03’S 101°24’E, alt. ca. 800 m, Sungai Penuh, 11.vii.2017, AH; West Sumatra: 5 ♀ (SEHU), Lubuk Minturun [ca. 00˚50’S 100˚22’E], SKY [1 ♀, 17.x.1980; 2 ♀, 6.xi.1980; 2 ♀, 14.xi.1980]; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 00°50’S 100°22’E, alt. ca. 300 m, Lubuk Minturun, 3.xi.2001, JK; 1 ♀ (SEHU), Simpang Tabing, Padang [ca. 00˚52’S 100˚21’E], 18.i.1984, T. Inoue; 1 ♀ (SEHU), Lubuk Paraku, Padang [ca. 00˚57’S 100˚30’E], 28.vii.1984, A. Ja-mal; Flores I.: 1 ♀ (IUNH), 08°44’S 121°45’E, Sipizena, Detusoko, Ende, 26.i.2003, JK; Sumba I.: 3 ♀ (IUNH), 09°40’S 120°22’E, Watunbaga, Pandawai, 28.i.2003, JK & RU; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 09°45’S 120°35’E, Wanga, 29.i.2003, JK & RU; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 09°55’S 120°39’E, alt. ca. 120 m, Watuhadang, Umalulu, 29.i.2003, JK & RU; New Guinea I.: 1 ♀ (MZB), 04˚37’S 136˚54’W, alt. ca. 25 m, Freeport Concession, Timika, 25.iii.1998, RU & D. Peggie. Remarks. This species, represented by local color forms (Bequaert, 1936; van der Vecht, 1957; Archer, 1997), is widely distributed in the Oriental and Papuan regions, from the eastern parts of Indian subcontinent in the west, through Southeast Asia to New Britain and New Ireland in the east. The present species occurs throughout Sulawesi I. and the color pattern of the Sulawesian population is the same as those of the populations of Borneo I. and North Moluccas; the head is mostly ferruginous and the first two metasomal terga are entirely orange yellow (see also van der Vecht (1957:28)). Distribution records: Indonesian Archipelago: throughout the archipelago, including New Guinea I.; Eastern parts of Indian subcontinent; Sri Lanka; Indochina Peninsular; southern parts of continental China; Taiwan; Ryukyu Islands south of Miyako I.; Palawan I., New Britain and New Ireland Islands (van der Vecht, 1957; Nguyen et al., 2006a)., Published as part of Handru, Alan, Nugroho, Hari, Saito-Morooka, Fuki, Ubaidillah, Rosichon & Kojima, Jun-Ichi, 2020, Eusocial wasp fauna of Sulawesi Island, the central island of Wallacea (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Vespinae), pp. 541-559 in Zootaxa 4885 (4) on page 544, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4885.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/4296946, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1764) Museum Siae Riae Mitis Ludovicae Ulricae reginae in quo animalia rariora, exotica imprimis insecta et conchilia describuntur et determinantur prodromi instar editum. Salvius, Holmiae, 720 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 119811","Vecht, J. van der (1957) The Vespinae of the Indo-Malayan and Papuan areas Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Zoologische Verhandelingen, 34, 1 - 83.","Bequaert, J. C. (1936) The common Oriental hornets, Vespa tropica and Vespa affinis, and their color forms. Treubia, 15, 329 - 351.","Archer, M. E. (1997) Taxonomy, distribution and nesting biology of Vespa affinis (Linnaeus) and Vespa mocsaryana du Buysson (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 133, 27 - 38.","Nguyen, T. P. L., Saito, F., Kojima, J. & Carpenter, J. M. (2006 a) Vespidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera) 2. Taxonomic notes on Vespinae. Zoological Science, 23, 95 - 104. https: // doi. org / 10.2108 / zsj. 23.95"]}

Vespa affinis (Linnaeus) Figs. 4d, 9c, 10b, 10d, and 14 Apis affinis Linnaeus, 1764: 417. Holotype female; ���in Calidis regionibus��� (UPPSALA). Vespa affinis Fabricius, 1787: 287. Syntype females; China (COPENHAGEN). Nec Vespa affinis (Linnaeus, 1764). Vespa unifasciata Olivier, 1792: 677. Type unknown; ���Indes orientales��� (repository unknown). Nec Vespa unifasciata Gmelin, 1790. Vespa alduini Gu��rin-M��neville, 1831: 264. Holotype male; Indonesia, Maluku, Buru Isl., ���l�����le de Bourou, l���une des Moluques��� (GENOA). Vespa bimaculata Gu��rin-M��neville, 1838: 264. Unnecessary replacement name for Vespa alduini Gu��rin-M��neville. Nec Vespa bimaculata Geoffroy, 1785, and Vespa bimaculata Olivier, 1792. Vespa nigripennis de Saussure, 1854: 156. Type unknown; Philippines (repository unknown). Nec Vespa nigripennis Degeer, 1773. Vespa cincta var. picea du Buysson, 1905 (1904): 537, Lectotype female (designated by van der Vecht, 1959: 214); Papua New Guinea, ���Tupuseleia or Kapakapa��� (van der Vecht does not indicate which locality) (GENOVA). Vespa indosinensis P��rez, 1910: 8. Lectotype female (designated by van der Vecht, 1957: 28); Vietnam: Annam (PARIS). Given as V. affinis indosinensis by van der Vecht, 1957. Vespa formosana Sonan, 1927: 125. Lectotype female (designated by Kojima et al. 2011: 45); Taiwan: Taihoku (TAICHUNG). Vespa affinis var. continentalis Bequaert, 1936: 350. Holotype female; India: Mangalore (WASHINGTON). Vespa affinis var. hainanensis Bequaert, 1936: 349. Holotype female; China: Hainan Is., 2 mi s Nodoa (CAMBRIDGE). Vespa affinis nigriventris van der Vecht, 1957: 29. Holotype female; Philippines: Palawan, Puerto Princesa (LOGAN). Vespa affinis rufonigrans van der Vecht, 1957: 29. Holotype female; Indonesia: Sulawesi, Palu ��� North West Celebes��� (LEIDEN). Vespa affinis archboldi van der Vecht, 1957: 32. Holotype female; Indonesia: ��� Hollandia��� (LEIDEN). Vespa affinis moluccana van der Vecht, 1957: 32. Holotype female; Indonesia: Saparua I. (LEIDEN). Vespa affinis alticincta van der Vecht, 1957: 33. Holotype female; New Britain (LONDON-NHM). Distribution. India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan (Ryukyu Is.), Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and introduced into Australia, New Zealand, United States. Discussion. This is one of the smaller bodied hornets, and is common in subtropical and tropical Asia. They are generalist scavengers, feeding on nectar, fruit, tree sap, carrion, and insects, including honeybees. Vespa affinis nests are usually built high in trees, but can also be found in shrubs, and on and in buildings (Archer 1997)., Published as part of Smith-Pardo, Allan H., Carpenter, James M. & Kimsey, Lynn, 2020, The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus Vespa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance and Interceptions in the United States, pp. 1-27 in Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (3) on pages 4-5, DOI: 10.1093/isd/ixaa006, http://zenodo.org/record/3826921, {"references":["Archer, M. E. 1997. Taxonomy, distribution and nesting biology of Vespa affinis (L.) and Vespa mocsaryana du Buysson. Entomol. Mon. Mag. 133: 27 - 38."]}

Background: Crude venom of the banded tiger waspVespa affinis contains a variety of enzymes including hyaluronidases, commonly known as spreading factors. Methods: The cDNA cloning, sequence analysis and structural modelling of V. affinis venom hyaluronidase (VesA2) were herein described. Moreover, heterologous expression and mutagenesis of rVesA2 were performed. Results: V. affinis venom hyaluronidase full sequence is composed of 331 amino acids, with four predicted N-glycosylation sites. It was classified into the glycoside hydrolase family 56. The homology modelling exhibited a central core (α/β)7 composed of Asp107 and Glu109, acting as the catalytic residues. The recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E. coli with hyaluronidase activity. A recombinant mutant type with the double point mutation, Asp107Asn and Glu109Gln, completely lost this activity. The hyaluronidase from crude venom exhibited activity from pH 2 to 7. The recombinant wild type showed its maximal activity at pH 2 but decreased rapidly to nearly zero at pH 3 and was completely lost at pH 4. Conclusion: The recombinant wild-type protein showed its maximal activity at pH 2, more acidic pH than that found in the crude venom. The glycosylation was predicted to be responsible for the pH optimum and thermal stability of the enzymes activity.

Background: Crude venom of the banded tiger waspVespa affinis contains a variety of enzymes including hyaluronidases, commonly known as spreading factors. Methods: The cDNA cloning, sequence analysis and structural modelling of V. affinis venom hyaluronidase (VesA2) were herein described. Moreover, heterologous expression and mutagenesis of rVesA2 were performed. Results: V. affinis venom hyaluronidase full sequence is composed of 331 amino acids, with four predicted N-glycosylation sites. It was classified into the glycoside hydrolase family 56. The homology modelling exhibited a central core (α/β)7 composed of Asp107 and Glu109, acting as the catalytic residues. The recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E. coli with hyaluronidase activity. A recombinant mutant type with the double point mutation, Asp107Asn and Glu109Gln, completely lost this activity. The hyaluronidase from crude venom exhibited activity from pH 2 to 7. The recombinant wild type showed its maximal activity at pH 2 but decreased rapidly to nearly zero at pH 3 and was completely lost at pH 4. Conclusion: The recombinant wild-type protein showed its maximal activity at pH 2, more acidic pH than that found in the crude venom. The glycosylation was predicted to be responsible for the pH optimum and thermal stability of the enzymes activity.

Vespa affinis stings are known to produce local as well as systemic toxic manifestations including haemolysis, rhabdomyolysis, renal injury, hepatic toxicity and encephalopathy. However, very few pediatric cases of Vespa affinis stings have been reported. An unusual case of a toddler with hornet stings (10 in number) is reported who presented to our hospital 72 hours after the sting and met with a fatal outcome. At the time of presentation, child was in altered sensorium and shock with multiple necrotic sting marks. Blood investigations were suggestive of acute renal failure with dyselectrolytemia, rhabdomyolysis and toxic liver injury. Child was managed conservatively with intravenous fluids, renal sparing antibiotics, inotropes, fresh frozen plasma and intravenous high dose steroid (Methyl Prednisolone 30 mg/kg/dose). However, the child deteriorated and had a cardiac arrest the same day. She was resuscitated, intubated and connected to a ventilator. The condition worsened and the child succumbed to death. Since there is no specific treatment, a rare case of hornet bite with acute toxic liver injury and rhabdomyolysis could be a challenge to treat.

Phospholipase A1 from Thai banded tiger wasp (Vespa affinis) venom also known as Ves a 1 plays an essential role in fatal vespid allergy. Ves a 1 becomes an important therapeutic target for toxin remedy. However, established Ves a 1 structure or a mechanism of Ves a 1 function were not well documented. This circumstance has prevented efficient design of a potential phospholipase A1 inhibitor. In our study, we successfully recruited homology modeling and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation to model Ves a 1 three-dimensional structure. The Ves a 1 structure along with dynamic behaviors were visualized and explained. In addition, we performed molecular docking of Ves a 1 with 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (DMPC) lipid to assess a possible lipid binding site. Interestingly, molecular docking predicted another lipid binding region apart from its corresponding catalytic site, suggesting an auxiliary role of the alternative site at the Ves a 1 surface. The new molecular mechanism related to the surface lipid binding site (auxiliary site) provided better understanding of how phospholipase A1 structure facilitates its enzymatic function. This auxiliary site, conserved among Hymenoptera species as well as some mammalian lipases, could be a guide for interaction-based design of a novel phospholipase A1 inhibitor.

Bhattacharyya, A.K., Kheto, S. (2015): A new species of Ameroseius (Mesostigmata: Ameroseiidae) from India. Acarologia 55 (3): 297-301, DOI: 10.1051/acarologia/20152174, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/acarologia/20152174

Wasp sting is a relatively common arthropod assault. This usually results in pain and mild allergic reactions, but sometimes may cause severe systemic reaction and multiorgan dysfunction including rhabdomyolysis, hemolysis, coagulopathy, hepatic, renal and cardiac complications. Along with several other pathomechanisms, rhabdomyolysis is a distinguished cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with wasp sting. We herein report a case in which the patient developed rhabdomyolysis followed by AKI due to multiple wasp stings. The offending wasp was brought to the hospital and the species was confirmed by a zoologist (Vespa affinis).

1. Mature queens of the hornet Vespa affinis are unusual in that they lose all their body hair and wings. This has been used as evidence for matricide in hornets. Factors favouring matricide such as low paternity and long annual lifecycle are present in most hornets. 2. We determined paternity in V. affinis and compared queen condition, levels of queen loss, and worker reproduction in 163 V. affinis and 63 V. simillima colonies. These two species have very similar lifecycles and colony sizes, but different paternities (1.3 vs 2.4). Furthermore, in queen-right V. affinis colonies small proportions (4%) of reproductive workers were present, whereas in queen-right V. simillima colonies no reproductive workers were detected. 3. Despite these differences, queen damage in both species was influenced predominantly by her age and in V. affinis was not influenced by presence of reproductive workers. 4. The number of queen-less V. simillima (9/63 = 14%) and V. affinis (28/163 = 17%) colonies were also not significantly different (P = 0.8). Therefore, queen damage and proportions of queen-less colonies were not linked making it a poor indicator of matricide. 5. It is proposed that graded control of sexual and worker production in wasps and hornets prevents a situation where kin-selected matricide is ever favoured.

While decorations of many spiders are made entirely of silk, those built by many Cyclosa species are composed of prey carcasses. The functions of prey carcass decorations are unknown. By manipulating their presence on webs of Cyclosa confusa, we tested whether they attract prey. Insect interception rates of webs with the decoration removed were significantly higher than those of webs with the decoration present. By monitoring predators' responses to spiders with and without decorations on their webs, we also tested whether prey carcass decorations decreased spiders' mortality. Spiders on undecorated webs experienced fewer attacks from paper wasps, Vespa affinis, but these attacks were all directed against the spiders. Although spiders with decorated webs experienced more attacks, wasps usually attacked the decorations rather than the spiders. Finally, we examined how visual signals of prey carcass decorations were perceived by predators. The chromatic colour contrast of the decoration against C. confusa was such that hymenopteran predators could not distinguish the chromatic signals of decorations from those of spiders. We conclude that prey carcass decorations do not attract insects, but may redirect the attack of V. affinis, and thus enhance the survival of spiders.

Introduction Vespa affinis is a hornet widely distributed in Sri Lanka and it is responsible for the highest number of deaths related to Hymenoptera stings. Apart from the early reactions, victims often die in hospital many hours later due to complications such as myocardial infarction and multiple organ failure. Increased microvascular permeability and acute pulmonary oedema as the primary pathology is less known in hornet envenoming. Case presentation Here, we report clinical and postmortem findings of two Sinhalese patients, a 48-year-old husband and his 46-year-old wife, who both died following a massive attack by hornets 32 hours and 9 hours after the incidence respectively. At postmortem examination, both patients had pleural effusions, acute pulmonary oedema and red cell casts in their urine. Their coronary arteries and histology of myocardium were normal. Conclusion Early recognition of acute pulmonary oedema in hornet stings is needed with implementation of crucial treatments to avert deaths.

Vespa affinis (Linnaeus) Apis affinis Linnaeus 1764: 417 Vespa formosana Sonan 1927: 125 ���128 [lectotype �� (here designated) in TARI; synonymized under Vespa affinis (Linnaeus) by Bequaert (1936: 345) and the synonymy was confirmed by Bequaert (1939: 42)]; Sonan, 1929: 145 ���146. Vespa affinis (Linnaeus): Starr 1992: 102 ���103., Published as part of Kojima, Jun-Ichi, Saito, Fuki & Nguyen, Lien Thi Phuong, 2011, On the species-group taxa of Taiwanese social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) described and / or treated by J. Sonan, pp. 42-64 in Zootaxa 2920 on page 45, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.201805, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1764) Museum S: ae R: ae M: tis Ludovicae Ulricae Reginae. L. Salvii, Holmiae, vi + 720 pp.","Sonan, J. (1927) Taiwan-san hachirui su-shu no gakumei oyobi kansatsu [only in Japanese, without English title. Translation to English: On scientific names and observations on biology of some hymenopteran insects in Taiwan; Starr (1992) gave the English translation of the title of this article as \" Taxonomic notes and observations on Hymenoptera of Taiwan \"]. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Formosa, 17, 121 - 138, pls. 1 & 2. (In Japanese).","Bequaert, J. (1936) The common Oriental hornets, Vespa tropica and Vespa affinis. Treubia, 15, 329 - 351.","Bequaert, J. (1939) The Oriental Vespa analis Fabricius and its color forms, with a note on the synonymy of Vespa esakii Sonan and Vespa formosana Sonan. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 65, 37 - 42.","Sonan, J. (1929) On Ve sp a from Formosa (1). Transactions of the Natural History Society of Formosa, 19, 136 - 149, pl. 6. (In Japanese).","Starr, C. K. (1992) The social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of Taiwan. Bulletin of the National Museum of Natural Science, (3), 93 - 138."]}

Among insects, only honeybees and bumblebees deposit iron biominerals intracellularly. Although hornet's behaviour is affected by the magnetic field and their abdomen has magnetic remanence, it is not known whether hornets ( Vespa affinis ) deposit iron biominerals and whether the process of iron deposition in hornets is the same as that of honeybees and bumblebees. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic emission spectroscopy were employed to study intracellular iron deposition in hornets. Iron deposition began on day 2 after eclosion. Primary iron-granules (IGs) are first formed in primary iron deposition vesicles (IDVs) by the aggregation of tiny dense particles. Primary IDVs are double membrane vesicles that seem to derive from endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Primary IGs enlarged continuously into IGs by the aggregation of tiny dense particles till day 5 after eclosion. Next, IGs and IDVs fused to enlarge on day 7. Between days 10 and 17 IGs enlarged continuously in size by the aggregation of tiny dense particles. The cloudy area beneath the inner membrane of IDVs plays an important role in the formation of the tiny dense particles. IGs became mature on day 25 and left a small space, about 10nm in width, between IGs and the outer membrane of IDVs. IDVs including IGs are randomly distributed within the cytoplasm of trophocytes beneath the cuticle of hornets. Elemental composition analysis indicates that IGs are mainly comprised of iron, phosphorus and minor amounts of calcium.

Background Acute coronary syndrome after hymenoptera stings or exposure to environment toxins is referred to as the Kounis syndrome or allergic myocardial ischaemia with or without infarction. We report a case of hornet (Vespa affinis) sting causing Kounis syndrome in Sri Lanka and present a review of literature. Case presentation A 60-year -old female with diabetes mellitus and known allergy to bee venom was stung by a hornet on the right hand. Within 30 minutes she developed hypotension and wide spread T wave inversion in the 12 leads ECG that remained unchanged about 5 hours and reversed back to normal. Conclusion Hymenoptera stings can induce acute coronary syndrome either by direct effect of venom constituents on the coronary endothelium or through inflammatory mediators induced allergic reaction on coronary vasculature. Early recognition of Kounis syndrome is needed in hornet stings to implement necessary treatments.

Although most species of wasps are solitary and no hazard to humans, attacks by colonies of large social wasps of the family Vespidae, which commonly are known as hornets, can result in envenomation with severe toxicity. The effects of such envenomation on six persons from Papua New Guinea are described and discussed in the light of other published reports from Melanesia, Asia, Europe and America. Four deaths and at least four cases of acute renal failure occurred. Vespa affinis (L.), 1764 was responsible for at least two deaths and Vespa tropica (L.), 1764 for one death. The ecology of vespids in Asia and the Pacific is reviewed and guide-lines for the prevention of wasp attacks are outlined, including appropriate clothing, and the recognition, avoidance and selective destruction of nests. A description is helpful in the identification of the species of insect that was responsible for clinical cases. Management includes hospitalization for victims of multiple stings, with careful monitoring for early and late damage to kidneys, blood, liver and muscle.