An Invasive Alien Hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax du Buysson (Hymenoptera, Vespidae), Found in Kitakyushu, Kyushu Island : A First Record of the Species from Mainland Japan

抄録

A nest of the invasive alien hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax du Buysson 1905 was collected on 1st September 2015 from Kitakyushu, Kyushu, western Japan. This represents a first record of the species from mainland Japan. The foundress of the colony might have been transported with ferry cargos from Korea or China. The nest measures 35 cm long and 24.5 cm wide including the envelope, consisting of three combs. The examination of the nest (cell size and pupal caste) indicated that all the combs were for the worker caste and that new queens had not yet been produced.