Vespa binghami du Buysson 1905

Vespa binghami du Buysson, 1905 Description. Head (Fig. 10): CW / MW = 1.56–1.68 (n = 10, mean 1.63). Cranium with moderate, irregular rugo-reticulation. Antenna positioned well behind the dorsal margin of the clypeus (Fig. 10 D), with a diameter of 0.1 mm and a thin but heavily sclerotized rim (Fig. 10 C). Temporal band (Fig. 10 C, D, G) relatively broad, with its ventral half wider than the dorsal half; edges heavily margined; inner part with heavy ferruginous pigmentation, except for the ventral one-third portion, which is nearly transparent. Paired suprafrontal marks well defined (Fig. 10 D); dotted patches on the frons faint; region around the frontal suture with 12 or 14 setae. Clypeus width larger than the minimum distance between the antennae. Clypeus as shown in Fig. 10 C, D; main disc with dorsal margin convex, with lateral arms straight, and dorsolateral corner roundly angulate; lateral margin straight and lacking pigmented spots, except in the tentorial pit; ventral margin shallowly convex; main disc moderately high, with a CLI of 1.5–2.5; main disc with approximately 85 setae; ventral section strongly transverse, with dorsal and ventral margins nearly parallel. Labrum (Fig. 10 E, left) with numerous sensory bristles widely distributed across its surface. Palate (Fig. 10 E, right) without a median patch; sclerotized patch relatively poorly developed; conical papillae dense in the proximal half of the sclerotized patch and sparser distally; spicules distributed in the medioventral part of the palate (Fig. 10 B, E). Mandible heavily sclerotized in the apical two-fifth portion (Fig. 10 C), with numerous pits on the outer surface (Fig. 10 A). Mandibular teeth (Fig. 10 F) all smooth with relatively sharp apices; teeth I and II significantly more projected than IIIa and IIIb; tooth I as large as II; tooth IIIb slightly more produced than IIIa; teeth I and II separated at an angle of 50 ° – 60 °, II and IIIa at 60 ° – 70 °, and IIIa and IIIb at 90 ° – 140 °; tooth I triangular and raised basally; bifurcation point between teeth II and IIIa deeper than the other bifurcation points. Maxilla with approximately 25 setae. Prelabium with 25‒35 setae. Body (thorax and abdomen): Body 29.8–31.4 mm in length (n = 10, mean 30.6 mm) and 12 mm in width; integument with evenly distributed setae; sparse and short spicules near the rim of spiracles 1 and 10. Spiracles shallow; generally uniform in size, except for spiracles 1, 2, and 10, which are slightly smaller; largest spiracle 0.35 mm in diameter; inner wall of spiracle with dense, long atrial processes; collar processes thick; spiracular rim 0.04 mm in thickness. Remarks. As in V. ducalis, mandibular teeth I and II are strongly developed. The temporal band, antennal rim, and mandible are more heavily pigmented compared to those in other species. Specimens examined. South Korea • 10 mature larvae; Gyeongsangbuk-do, Andong-si, Namhu-myeon; 36°52'99"N, 128°67'48"E; 2 Sept. 2022; Choi.