Morphological variation between queens, workers and drones of Vespa orientalis L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae)

Morphological variation between queens, workers and drones of Vespa orientalis L. 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(Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) Ahmed Ali Shaheen, Mohammad Mohammad Bedewy, Mahmoud mokhtar Metwally This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4115617/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 19 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in International Journal of Tropical Insect Science → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Large-sized wasp, Vespa orientalis L., is a dangerous and widespread enemy to bee hives in Egypt and other countries of the world. There are eleven synonyms known as subspecies, colour forms or so called aberrations of Vespa orientalis , four of them are described from Egypt. Inadequate investigations have been used to identified these colour forms, especially depending upon colour features, without accreditation on other certainty characters such as male genitalia. Morphological with morphometric traits can help in verifying and distinguishing between the subspecies or other forms within individual species. In our study, some body structures of V . orientalis early queens, workers and drones from Egypt were measured including head length and width, mandibles length and width, antennal length, forewing length and width, hindwing length and width, number of hamuli, hind femora length, hind tibiae length and stinger. The result showed that the mean values were; queen head length 6.45 ± 0.03 and 4.54 ± 0.03 for drones, queen head width 6.97 ± 0.03, and 5.08 ± 0.04 for drones, antennal length is longer for drones 10.87 ± 0.07, slightly shorter for queens 10.08 ± 0.08, and distinctly shorter for workers 8.54 ± 0.05, forewing length 24.21 ± 0.12 for queens, and 19.89 ± 0.16 for workers, hindwing length is 14.20 ± 0.19 for queens, and 12.32 ± 0.09 for workers and drones. Some of these characters are effective to discriminating the individual species and can be utilized to emphasized the identification the original species of Vespa orientalis L. Vespa orientalis Taxonomy Colour forms Forewing and Hindwing Morphometrical characters Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Introduction Vespa orientalis L., 1771 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae), known as the large-sized wasp or oriental hornet. This is a widespread species found throughout north Africa including Egypt, southeastern Asia, and south-eastern Europe (Archer,1998). Vespa orientalis caused dangerous and detriment on the hives of useful bees in the Assiut’s region, and Egyptian beekeeping in Upper Egypt, moreover fed on overripe of many orchard fruits especially grapes, and dates before and after harvesting, (Ibrahim and Mazeed, 1967 ; ElBorolossy and Charkawi, 1968). Vespa orientalis L. is a polyphagous insects, the adults are vegetarian and the larvae eat animal protein. It is represent one of the most voracious pests attacks honeybee and generate deteriorations in weak colonies of honeybees in Egypt and other parts of the world, so it is considered a yardstick pest for beekeeping (Abou-Shaara, 2017 ). The sanctuary of V . orientalis is transferred toward areas with higher temperatures and lower precipitation (Lioy, et al. 2023 ). Vespa orientlis with wide geographic scope is exposed to various climatic conditions which drive and shape their phenotypic and genetic divergence (Jackson et al. 2020 ). Five chemo- and tactile receptors have been investigated in three castes of Vespa orientalis by using an electron microscope (Khodairy and Awad, 2013). The external morphology of two sternal glands for nine species of Vespa associated with workers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, these associated glands external differed among species (Mattila et al. 2022 ). A caste shape dimorphism were investigated for three species of genus Vespa , with allometric directions in the shape space differed between castes within species, and two species were similar (Perrard, et al. 2012 ). The traditional methods used to detect and differentiate closely related species include morphometric beside morphological characters (Collins et al. 1988 , and Rosa-Freitas et al. 1990 ). Morphological dimensions of insects, including Hymenoptera and especially the eusocial species, have had used for a long history (e.g. Huxley 1972 ) and termed as morphometrics. The morphometric traits involves two variables, such as head width and antennal scape length to describe allometric growth and caste differences in ants (Huxley, 1972 ; Wilson, 1971 ), as long as a combination of univariate and multivariate statistics has sometimes been employed to determine caste differences (e.g. Gelin et al. 2008 ). The multiple characters of bees will be measured and used explanatory though multivariate statistical analysis is not employed (Owen, 2012). Furthermore, adult of Vespa orientalis L. from 25–35 mm in length, colour is ferruginous with yellowish markings on the face and various parts of metasoma (Sánchez et al. 2019 ), with queens mostly larger than workers. Karl Pearson (in Wright et al. 1907 ) from one century ago, reported precise differences between the wings of workers and queens of social wasps that did not result from a simple scaling effect. Vespa orientalis L. has eleven synonyms known as species and subspecies, four of them are described from Egypt were; Vespa turcica Drury, 1773; V. quadripunctata Forsal, 1775 (Egypt); V. crabro fusca Christ, 1791; V. aegyptiaca Vallot, 1802(Egypt); V. nilotica Vallot, 1802(Egypt); V. jurinei de Saussure, 1854; V. orientalis var. aegyptiaca André, 1884(Egypt); V. indica Wroughton, 1889; V. orientalis var. zavattarii Guiglia and Capra, 1933; V. orientalis var. somalica Giordani Soika, 1934; V. orientalis arabica Giordani Soika, 1957, (Smith-Pardo, et al . 2020), in other literatures are five colour forms ( e . g . Archer, 1998 ), these forms or so called aberrations are identified depending on colour features, without accreditation on other certainty characters such as male genital structure. About 150 specimens have been examined in this paper of different colour forms. To study fourteen morphometric characters of fifty specimens of workers, drones, and queens were used to study the relationships between different individuals of oriental wasp, V . orientalis , were: antennal length; head length, and width; mandible length, and width; forewing length, and width; hindwing length, and width; femora and tibiae length of hindleg; sting length, and hamuli of hindwings. The estimated characters may be the most appreciated characters that useful in determining and gave a reliable methods for identification of these individuals of oriental wasp. MATERIAL AND METHODS A- Specimen collection : The present investigation was carried out in Alfieri Collection, and Plant Protection Department's apiary at the Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, from April to end of December to collect workers, drones and queens of the oriental hornet, some specimens especially spring queens, and drones are collected from other places such as nests surrounded the apiary, and private apiary in Minufiya governorate. The collected specimens of Vespa orientalis L. are identified by comparing the materials with the specimens of V . orientalis , and V . orientalis aegyptiaca , collected between 1920–1936 from Cairo and Wadi Feran preserved in the Alifieri Collection. B- Morphometric characters: The fourteen of morphometric features are chosen for fifty specimens of queens workers, and drones (Fig. 1) were: antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, and total antennal length; head length, and width; mandible length, and width; forewing length, and width; hindwing length, and width; hind-legs length (femora and tibiae); sting apparatus length, and number of hamuli of hindwings. All specimens are photographed by using Tucsen 2.0MP, attached to a dissecting microscope Olympus SZ61 Stereomicroscope and measured in millimeters after calibration. C- Statistical analysis : Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using “SPSS” computer statistical program. Mean values were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test (Duncan, 1955). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS A- Morphological variations between queens, workers, and drones. Vespa orientalis L., 1771 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae), or oriental hornet are described as follows with details used to differentiated between queens, workers, and drones colour is ferruginous with clypeus and triangular sclerite towards ocelli between antennal base are yellowish markings. Drone mandibles distinctly shorter, and narrower than females, with basal, sub-basal, sub-apical and apical teeth, from dorsal and ventral side, without a distinct teeth at ventral one, while the queens and workers with a pair of sub-basal, sub-apical teeth at both sides, and a common apical tooth for each (Fig. 2). Clypeus with the first indication of drone obliquely truncated laterally and anterior margin slightly straight, while the workers with anterior margin of clypeus slightly concaved medially, on the other hand the queens with distinctly concaved medially and two distinct lateral projections (Fig. 3), with the first noticeable by the authors for the mandibles teeth, and anterior margins of clypeus. B - Morphometrical variations between queens, workers, and drones. The measurements in mm of different body parts of V. orientalis , range and average of each character are listed in Tables 1 , 2 , and 3 for 150 specimens of queens, workers, and drones, are demonstrated as follows: 1- Queens The differences between minimum values and maximum one for 50 specimens of early queens as in Table (1) were; 0.80, 1.26, 0.76, 0.48, 1.02, 1.99, 2.19, 3.60, 1.10, 4.17, 0.84, 1.12, 2.00, 1.14mm., for head length, head width, mandible length, mandible width, antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, total antennal length, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femoral length, tibial length and approximate length of queen stinger, respectively. The differences between minimum number and maximum one for queen hindwing hamuli varying between 38–47 are 9 hamuli. Table 1 The morphometrical characters in millimeters of Vespa orientalis queens with minimum, maximum, average, and S.D. Characters Min. Max. Aver. S.D. Head length 6.02 6.82 6.45 0.20 Head width 6.05 7.31 6.97 0.24 Mandible length 3.01 3.77 3.42 0.17 Mandible width 1.86 2.34 2.04 0.11 Antennal scape with pedicel 2.15 3.17 2.63 0.23 flagellum of antennae 6.23 8.22 7.45 0.46 Total antennal length 8.86 11.05 10.08 0.58 Forewing length 21.70 25.30 24.21 0.86 Forewing width 5.70 6.80 6.35 0.27 Hindwing length 11.83 16.00 14.20 1.31 Hindwing width 3.26 4.10 3.64 0.23 Hind femoral length 5.84 6.96 6.39 0.31 Hind tibial length 5.32 7.32 6.80 0.39 Approximate sting length 3.80 4.94 4.17 0.24 Number of hamuli 38.00 47.00 41.70 2.30 2- Workers The differences between minimum values and maximum one for 50 specimens of workers as in Table (2) were; 1.84, 1.61, 0.70, 0.38, 0.64, 1.28, 1.89, 5.60, 1.40, 3.00, 0.90, 1.18, 1.30, 1.20mm., for head length, head width, mandible length, mandible width, antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, total antennal length, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femoral length, tibial length and approximate length of queen stinger, respectively. The differences between minimum number and maximum one for worker hindwing hamuli varying between 31–43 are 12 hamuli. Table 2 The morphometrical characters in millimeters of Vespa orientalis workers with minimum, maximum, average, and S.D. Characters Min. Max. Aver. S.D. Head length 4.10 5.94 4.91 0.33 Head width 4.29 5.90 5.42 0.32 Mandible length 2.28 2.98 2.62 0.17 Mandible width 1.25 1.63 1.43 0.10 Antennal scape with pedicel 1.93 2.57 2.30 0.12 Flagellum of antennae 5.44 6.72 6.25 0.27 Total antennal length 7.37 9.26 8.54 0.36 Forewing length 16.70 22.30 19.89 1.11 Forewing width 4.60 6.00 5.38 0.24 Hindwing length 10.50 13.50 12.32 0.62 Hindwing width 2.60 3.50 3.12 0.20 Hind femoral length 4.12 5.30 4.85 0.25 Hind tibial length 4.70 6.00 5.37 0.26 Approximate sting length 3.10 4.30 3.54 0.27 Number of hamuli 31.00 43.00 36.94 2.73 3- Drones The differences between minimum values and maximum one for 50 specimens of drones as in Table (3) were; 0.89, 1.24, 0.85, 0.61, 0.70, 1.68, 1.91, 2.90, 1.30, 1.90, 0.70, 1.66, 1.72mm., for head length, head width, mandible length, mandible width, antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, total antennal length, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femoral length, and tibial length, respectively. The differences between minimum number and maximum one for queen hindwing hamuli varying between 30–40 are 10 hamuli. Table 3 The morphometrical characters in millimeters of Vespa orientalis , drones with minimum, maximum, average, and S.D. Characters Min. Max. Aver. S.D. Head length 4.10 4.99 4.54 0.20 Head width 4.24 5.48 5.08 0.25 Mandible length 2.11 2.96 2.47 0.16 Mandible width 0.81 1.42 1.23 0.12 Antenna scape with pedicel 1.32 2.02 1.78 0.16 Flagellum of antennae 8.22 9.90 9.09 0.41 Total antennal length 10.01 11.92 10.87 0.46 Forewing length 18.50 21.40 20.04 0.71 Forewing width 4.40 5.70 5.22 0.28 Hindwing length 11.00 12.90 12.32 0.43 Hindwing width 2.70 3.40 3.08 0.16 Hind femoral length 4.24 5.90 5.03 0.26 Hind tibial length 4.13 5.85 5.47 0.24 Number of hamuli 30.00 40.00 34.34 2.08 4- The morphometrical characters between specimens of early summer queens, workers and drones as shown in the Table (4) , Means with S.E. of Vespa orientalis , are revealed that; Queen head length are longer than the average of workers and drones head length by 1.54mm, and between workers and drones by 0.37mm., while the queen head width is longer than drones head width by 1.89mm. with worker head width slightly longer than drones. Mandibles queen length are longer than average length of workers and drones by nearly 1mm., although, the drone mandibles is narrower than queen mandibles. The antennal drone length are more longer than workers antennae, and slightly longer than antennal queens, with scape and pedicle evidently shorter than the queens and workers, at the same time the drones flagellum is longer than workers flagellum by nearly 3mm. Forewing queen length are clearly longer than drones and also workers, with mean of wide for workers slightly broader than forewing width of drones. Hindwing length obviously longer than workers and drones length which are the same length. Table 4 Mean values (± SE) of morphometrical characters (mm) of Vespa orientalis , (n = 50 / Individual) queens, workers, and drones Characters Queens Workers Drones Head length 6.45 ± 0.03 a 4.91 ± 0.05 b 4.54 ± 0.03 c Head width 6.97 ± 0.03 a 5.42 ± 0.05 b 5.08 ± 0.04 c Mandible length 3.42 ± 0.02 a 2.62 ± 0.02 b 2.47 ± 0.02 c Mandible width 2.04 ± 0.02 a 1.43 ± 0.01 b 1.23 ± 0.02 c Antenna scape with pedicel 2.63 ± 0.03 a 2.30 ± 0.02b 1.78 ± 0.02c Flagellum of antennae 7.45 ± 0.07 b 6.25 ± 0.04c 9.09 ± 0.06 a Total antennal length 10.08 ± 0.08 b 8.54 ± 0.05 c 10.87 ± 0.07a Forewing length 24.21 ± 0.12 a 19.89 ± 0.16 b 20.04 ± 0.10 b Forewing width 6.35 ± 0.04 a 5.38 ± 0.03 b 5.22 ± 0.04 c Hindwing length 14.20 ± 0.19 a 12.32 ± 0.09 b 12.32 ± 0.06 b Hindwing width 3.64 ± 0.03 a 3.12 ± 0.03 b 3.08 ± 0.02 b Hind femoral length 6.39 ± 0.04 a 4.85 ± 0.04 c 5.03 ± 0.04 b Hind tibial length 6.80 ± 0.06 a 5.37 ± 0.04 b 5.47 ± 0.03 b Number of hamuli 41.70 ± 0.03 a 36.94 ± 0.39 b 34.34 ± 0.29 c Approximate stinger length 4.17 ± 0.32 a 3.54 ± 0.04 b -------------- The mean values with different letters in the same rows are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). The average number of hamuli are nearly 42 for queens followed by 37 for workers, then 34 hamuli for drones. The hind-femoral length of queens are distinctly longer than hind femoral workers, and drones by 1.54 mm., and 1.36mm. for each, at the same time, the hind tibial length in queens are longer than the hind tibial length of workers and drones by 1.43, and 1.33mm. The approximate stinger length in queen is slightly longer than the worker stinger length. DISCUSSION The morphological feature is the first reliable and taxonomic characteristic used to distinguishing the closely related species concluded; polymorphisms within the same species, shape of adult stage, and male genital structures. There are at least two morphological characters utilized to discriminate between queens, workers, and drones of Vespa orientalis L. including; scape with pedicle length, flagellum, and total antennal length of drones, queens, and workers, with thirteen antennal-segments for drones and twelve antennal-segments for queen and workers; the second trait is the shape of anterior clypeal margin for the three individuals which are; slightly straight in drones, or slightly concaved medially within workers, or distinctly concaved medially with two distinct lateral projections within queen individuals. The present investigation revealed that the mean values for queen were longer than worker and drones except mean of flagellum, and total antennal length, while the antennal scape with pedicel are longer than one in drones. The mean values of head length, and width, mandible length, and width, forewing length of drones are the shortest, also the number of hindwings hamuli are the least, excluding flagellum, total antennal length, and hind femoral length of worker which are the shortest. The head length 6.45 ± 0.03 for queen and 4.54 ± 0.03 for drones, queen head width 6.97 ± 0.03, and 5.08 ± 0.04 for drones, antennal length is longer for drones 10.87 ± 0.07, slightly shorter for queens 10.08 ± 0.08, and distinctly shorter for workers 8.54 ± 0.05, forewing length 24.21 ± 0.12 for queens, and 19.89 ± 0.16 for workers slightly longer in drones, hindwing length is 14.20 ± 0.19 for queens, and 12.32 ± 0.09 for workers and drones. The mean values of queen measurements are differ from the previous results obtained by Abou-Shaara, 2017 , on autumn queen which were distinctly shorter than the average values of head width, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femur length, tibia length, and sting length by 1.45, 5.02, 0.24, 2.01, 0.38, 1.40, 1.24, and 0.75mm. The morphological with morphometrical characters are comprise a definitive methods to differentiate between queen, worker, and drones of Vespa orientalis L. and also between individuals of other species within eusocial species of order Hymenoptera. The results markedly indicate that queens are not just enlarged workers, and there are more differences between early summer or spring queens, which are completely different from workers and drones. With more considerations the individuals of Vespa orientalis queen, workers, and drones, shall be study, taking into accounts more attributes. The environmental conditions with climatic changes may be contribute to show a lot of variations within individuals of the original species of Vespa orientalis L. Declarations Acknowledgements : The authors wish to express their gratitude to the owner and the custodian of the Collection Alfieri which belonging to Department of Plant Protection for the privilege of examining the specimens of Vespa orientalis L. Competing Interests The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work. No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. No funding was received for conducting this study. No funds, grants, or other support was received References Abou-Shaara, H. (2017). Morphological Characterization and Wing Description of Vespa orientalis orientalis Queens, Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 33 (2): 251-259. Archer, M. E. (1998). Taxonomy, Distribution and Nesting Biology of Vespa ortentalis L. (Hym., Vespidae). 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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): 2; 1–27 Wafaa, A.K.; ElBorolossy, F.F., and Charkawi, S.G. (1968). Studies on Vespa orientalis . Bull. Ent. Soc. Egypt, Econ. Ser., 2: 9-27. Wilson, E.O. (1971). The Insect Societies. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. Wright, A.; Lee, A., and Pearson, K. (1907). A cooperative study of queens, drones and workers in‘‘ Vespa Vulgaris ’’. Biometrika 5: 407–422. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 19 Mar, 2026 Read the published version in International Journal of Tropical Insect Science → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Major revisions 27 Oct, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Jun, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 27 Mar, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 21 Mar, 2024 First submitted to journal 21 Mar, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4115617","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":284545186,"identity":"fbaf614e-ca37-403f-8132-798de1b955a4","order_by":0,"name":"Ahmed Ali Shaheen","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABA0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC+RkMbBAWOwP7B4kKBgYDQloMbsC0MAMZFmeI0SKBrKWyjRgt0s3PHnyouMPA38xj9uDmvMPy5uzNBxh+VGzD7Zc5x8wNZ5x5xiBxmMfccOa2w4Y7e44lMPacuY3bmhsJZtK8bYcZGA7zGEhLbjvMuOFGjgEzYxs+LenfpP/+O8wgD9Lyd85heyK05JhJMzYcZjA4zGMmIdlwOJGgFoMbOWWSPccO8xgeZis2kDiWnrzhzLGEg/j8Ij8jfZvEj5rDcnLHmzc+kKixtt1wvPnggx8VeBwGBTwMDBygGGkG8w4QVA8B7A+ARB2RikfBKBgFo2AkAQD/W1xAXi+36wAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6043-4834","institution":"Al-Azhar University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ahmed","middleName":"Ali","lastName":"Shaheen","suffix":""},{"id":284545187,"identity":"b756109c-33d7-4312-9d20-ca8c51cc9f63","order_by":1,"name":"Mohammad Mohammad Bedewy","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Al-Azhar University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammad","middleName":"Mohammad","lastName":"Bedewy","suffix":""},{"id":284545188,"identity":"b5b3c77c-d483-43c9-b295-6829c1fcc553","order_by":2,"name":"Mahmoud mokhtar Metwally","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Al-Azhar University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mahmoud","middleName":"mokhtar","lastName":"Metwally","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-03-17 06:10:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4115617/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4115617/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01800-y","type":"published","date":"2026-03-19T15:58:29+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":53877084,"identity":"8f21fda7-9115-482f-9c33-e0d4859c875c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-01 16:43:14","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":391389,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003emorphometrical characters used in this study, a. antennae, b. mandible, c. hindleg, d. forewing, e. hindwing, f. hamuli and g. sting apparatus.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4115617/v1/81f41be49c0d8fab52584d2e.png"},{"id":53877821,"identity":"ab7477b0-6755-40c2-9435-def5f70fbca5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-01 16:51:14","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":336659,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMandibles of drone (a), worker (b), and queen (c).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4115617/v1/6da27620a6edc65ab1912a09.png"},{"id":53877086,"identity":"12ea46d1-65d5-4e3f-a846-80ad01722b3a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-01 16:43:14","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":803478,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ehead with antennae of drone (a), worker (b), and queen (c), arrow refers to anterior clypeal margin\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4115617/v1/4f5dc3044bf5a73026900ce5.png"},{"id":105223325,"identity":"e08e2455-8510-4812-82f8-a1f11a628a63","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-23 16:03:51","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2536508,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4115617/v1/67697c71-3593-4feb-b70e-28985bc5d8d8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Morphological variation between queens, workers and drones of Vespa orientalis L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae)","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L., 1771 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae), known as the large-sized wasp or oriental hornet. This is a widespread species found throughout north Africa including Egypt, southeastern Asia, and south-eastern Europe (Archer,1998). \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e caused dangerous and detriment on the hives of useful bees in the Assiut\u0026rsquo;s region, and Egyptian beekeeping in Upper Egypt, moreover fed on overripe of many orchard fruits especially grapes, and dates before and after harvesting, (Ibrahim and Mazeed, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1967\u003c/span\u003e; ElBorolossy and Charkawi, 1968). \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. is a polyphagous insects, the adults are vegetarian and the larvae eat animal protein. It is represent one of the most voracious pests attacks honeybee and generate deteriorations in weak colonies of honeybees in Egypt and other parts of the world, so it is considered a yardstick pest for beekeeping (Abou-Shaara, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). The sanctuary of \u003cem\u003eV\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eorientalis\u003c/em\u003e is transferred toward areas with higher temperatures and lower precipitation (Lioy, et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). \u003cem\u003eVespa orientlis\u003c/em\u003e with wide geographic scope is exposed to various climatic conditions which drive and shape their phenotypic and genetic divergence (Jackson et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Five chemo- and tactile receptors have been investigated in three castes of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e by using an electron microscope (Khodairy and Awad, 2013). The external morphology of two sternal glands for nine species of \u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e associated with workers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, these associated glands external differed among species (Mattila et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). A caste shape dimorphism were investigated for three species of genus \u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e, with allometric directions in the shape space differed between castes within species, and two species were similar (Perrard, et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). The traditional methods used to detect and differentiate closely related species include morphometric beside morphological characters (Collins et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1988\u003c/span\u003e, and Rosa-Freitas et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e). Morphological dimensions of insects, including Hymenoptera and especially the eusocial species, have had used for a long history (e.g. Huxley \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1972\u003c/span\u003e) and termed as morphometrics. The morphometric traits involves two variables, such as head width and antennal scape length to describe allometric growth and caste differences in ants (Huxley, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1972\u003c/span\u003e; Wilson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1971\u003c/span\u003e), as long as a combination of univariate and multivariate statistics has sometimes been employed to determine caste differences (e.g. Gelin et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). The multiple characters of bees will be measured and used explanatory though multivariate statistical analysis is not employed (Owen, 2012). Furthermore, adult of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. from 25\u0026ndash;35 mm in length, colour is ferruginous with yellowish markings on the face and various parts of metasoma (S\u0026aacute;nchez et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), with queens mostly larger than workers.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eKarl Pearson (in Wright et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1907\u003c/span\u003e) from one century ago, reported precise differences between the wings of workers and queens of social wasps that did not result from a simple scaling effect. \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. has eleven synonyms known as species and subspecies, four of them are described from Egypt were; \u003cem\u003eVespa turcica\u003c/em\u003e Drury, 1773; \u003cem\u003eV. quadripunctata\u003c/em\u003e Forsal, 1775 (Egypt);\u003cem\u003eV. crabro fusca\u003c/em\u003e Christ, 1791;\u003cem\u003eV. aegyptiaca\u003c/em\u003e Vallot, 1802(Egypt);\u003cem\u003eV. nilotica\u003c/em\u003e Vallot, 1802(Egypt);\u003cem\u003eV. jurinei\u003c/em\u003e de Saussure, 1854;\u003cem\u003eV. orientalis\u003c/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003eaegyptiaca\u003c/em\u003e Andr\u0026eacute;, 1884(Egypt);\u003cem\u003eV. indica\u003c/em\u003e Wroughton, 1889;\u003cem\u003eV. orientalis\u003c/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003ezavattarii\u003c/em\u003e Guiglia and Capra, 1933;\u003cem\u003eV. orientalis\u003c/em\u003e var. \u003cem\u003esomalica\u003c/em\u003e Giordani Soika, 1934;\u003cem\u003eV. orientalis arabica\u003c/em\u003e Giordani Soika, 1957, (Smith-Pardo, \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2020), in other literatures are five colour forms (\u003cem\u003ee\u003c/em\u003e.\u003cem\u003eg\u003c/em\u003e. Archer, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e), these forms or so called aberrations are identified depending on colour features, without accreditation on other certainty characters such as male genital structure.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbout 150 specimens have been examined in this paper of different colour forms. To study fourteen morphometric characters of fifty specimens of workers, drones, and queens were used to study the relationships between different individuals of oriental wasp, \u003cem\u003eV\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eorientalis\u003c/em\u003e, were: antennal length; head length, and width; mandible length, and width; forewing length, and width; hindwing length, and width; femora and tibiae length of hindleg; sting length, and hamuli of hindwings. The estimated characters may be the most appreciated characters that useful in determining and gave a reliable methods for identification of these individuals of oriental wasp.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"MATERIAL AND METHODS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eA- \u003cb\u003eSpecimen collection\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present investigation was carried out in Alfieri Collection, and Plant Protection Department's apiary at the Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, from April to end of December to collect workers, drones and queens of the oriental hornet, some specimens especially spring queens, and drones are collected from other places such as nests surrounded the apiary, and private apiary in Minufiya governorate. The collected specimens of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. are identified by comparing the materials with the specimens of \u003cem\u003eV\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eorientalis\u003c/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eV\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eorientalis aegyptiaca\u003c/em\u003e, collected between 1920\u0026ndash;1936 from Cairo and Wadi Feran preserved in the Alifieri Collection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eB- Morphometric characters:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe fourteen of morphometric features are chosen for fifty specimens of queens workers, and drones (Fig.\u0026nbsp;1) were: antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, and total antennal length; head length, and width; mandible length, and width; forewing length, and width; hindwing length, and width; hind-legs length (femora and tibiae); sting apparatus length, and number of hamuli of hindwings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll specimens are photographed by using Tucsen 2.0MP, attached to a dissecting microscope Olympus SZ61 Stereomicroscope and measured in millimeters after calibration.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e\u003cb\u003eC- Statistical analysis\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eData were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using \u0026ldquo;SPSS\u0026rdquo; computer statistical program. Mean values were compared using Duncan\u0026rsquo;s multiple range test (Duncan, 1955).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eA- Morphological variations between queens, workers, and drones.\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L., 1771 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae), or oriental hornet are described as follows with details used to differentiated between queens, workers, and drones colour is ferruginous with clypeus and triangular sclerite towards ocelli between antennal base are yellowish markings. Drone mandibles distinctly shorter, and narrower than females, with basal, sub-basal, sub-apical and apical teeth, from dorsal and ventral side, without a distinct teeth at ventral one, while the queens and workers with a pair of sub-basal, sub-apical teeth at both sides, and a common apical tooth for each (Fig.\u0026nbsp;2). Clypeus with the first indication of drone obliquely truncated laterally and anterior margin slightly straight, while the workers with anterior margin of clypeus slightly concaved medially, on the other hand the queens with distinctly concaved medially and two distinct lateral projections (Fig.\u0026nbsp;3), with the first noticeable by the authors for the mandibles teeth, and anterior margins of clypeus.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eB - Morphometrical variations between queens, workers, and drones.\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe measurements in mm of different body parts of \u003cem\u003eV. orientalis\u003c/em\u003e, range and average of each character are listed in Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, and \u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e for 150 specimens of queens, workers, and drones, are demonstrated as follows:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e1- Queens\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe differences between minimum values and maximum one for 50 specimens of early queens as in Table\u0026nbsp;(1) were; 0.80, 1.26, 0.76, 0.48, 1.02, 1.99, 2.19, 3.60, 1.10, 4.17, 0.84, 1.12, 2.00, 1.14mm., for head length, head width, mandible length, mandible width, antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, total antennal length, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femoral length, tibial length and approximate length of queen stinger, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe differences between minimum number and maximum one for queen hindwing hamuli varying between 38\u0026ndash;47 are 9 hamuli.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe morphometrical characters in millimeters of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e queens with minimum, maximum, average, and S.D.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacters\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMin.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMax.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAver.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS.D.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAntennal scape with pedicel\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eflagellum of antennae\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal antennal length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind femoral length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind tibial length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eApproximate sting length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of hamuli\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2- Workers\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe differences between minimum values and maximum one for 50 specimens of workers as in Table\u0026nbsp;(2) were; 1.84, 1.61, 0.70, 0.38, 0.64, 1.28, 1.89, 5.60, 1.40, 3.00, 0.90, 1.18, 1.30, 1.20mm., for head length, head width, mandible length, mandible width, antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, total antennal length, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femoral length, tibial length and approximate length of queen stinger, respectively. The differences between minimum number and maximum one for worker hindwing hamuli varying between 31\u0026ndash;43 are 12 hamuli.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe morphometrical characters in millimeters of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e workers with minimum, maximum, average, and S.D.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacters\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMin.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMax.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAver.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS.D.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAntennal scape with pedicel\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlagellum of antennae\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal antennal length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind femoral length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind tibial length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eApproximate sting length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of hamuli\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3- Drones\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe differences between minimum values and maximum one for 50 specimens of drones as in Table\u0026nbsp;(3) were; 0.89, 1.24, 0.85, 0.61, 0.70, 1.68, 1.91, 2.90, 1.30, 1.90, 0.70, 1.66, 1.72mm., for head length, head width, mandible length, mandible width, antennal scape with pedicle, flagellum, total antennal length, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femoral length, and tibial length, respectively. The differences between minimum number and maximum one for queen hindwing hamuli varying between 30\u0026ndash;40 are 10 hamuli.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe morphometrical characters in millimeters of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e, drones with minimum, maximum, average, and S.D.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacters\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMin.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMax.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAver.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eS.D.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAntenna scape with pedicel\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlagellum of antennae\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal antennal length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind femoral length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind tibial length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of hamuli\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e4- The morphometrical characters between specimens of early summer queens, workers and drones\u003c/b\u003e as shown in the \u003cb\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;(4)\u003c/b\u003e, Means with S.E. of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e, are revealed that;\u003c/p\u003e \u003col\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eQueen head length are longer than the average of workers and drones head length by 1.54mm, and between workers and drones by 0.37mm., while the queen head width is longer than drones head width by 1.89mm. with worker head width slightly longer than drones.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eMandibles queen length are longer than average length of workers and drones by nearly 1mm., although, the drone mandibles is narrower than queen mandibles.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe antennal drone length are more longer than workers antennae, and slightly longer than antennal queens, with scape and pedicle evidently shorter than the queens and workers, at the same time the drones flagellum is longer than workers flagellum by nearly 3mm.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eForewing queen length are clearly longer than drones and also workers, with mean of wide for workers slightly broader than forewing width of drones. Hindwing length obviously longer than workers and drones length which are the same length.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean values (\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SE) of morphometrical characters (mm) of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e, (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;50 / Individual) queens, workers, and drones\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacters\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eQueens\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWorkers\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrones\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.91\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHead width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.97\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.42\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.42\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.62\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMandible width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.04\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.43\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.01 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.23\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAntenna scape with pedicel\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.63\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.78\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFlagellum of antennae\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.25\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.09\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal antennal length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.16 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.04\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.10 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eForewing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.35\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.38\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.22\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHindwing width\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.64\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.12\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.02 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind femoral length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.39\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.85\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.03\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHind tibial length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.80\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.47\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber of hamuli\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.70\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.39 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.34\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.29 c\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eApproximate stinger length\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.17\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.32 a\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 b\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e--------------\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mean values with different letters in the same rows are significantly different (P\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003col start=\"5\"\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe average number of hamuli are nearly 42 for queens followed by 37 for workers, then 34 hamuli for drones.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe hind-femoral length of queens are distinctly longer than hind femoral workers, and drones by 1.54 mm., and 1.36mm. for each, at the same time, the hind tibial length in queens are longer than the hind tibial length of workers and drones by 1.43, and 1.33mm.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe approximate stinger length in queen is slightly longer than the worker stinger length.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ol\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe morphological feature is the first reliable and taxonomic characteristic used to distinguishing the closely related species concluded; polymorphisms within the same species, shape of adult stage, and male genital structures. There are at least two morphological characters utilized to discriminate between queens, workers, and drones of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. including; scape with pedicle length, flagellum, and total antennal length of drones, queens, and workers, with thirteen antennal-segments for drones and twelve antennal-segments for queen and workers; the second trait is the shape of anterior clypeal margin for the three individuals which are; slightly straight in drones, or slightly concaved medially within workers, or distinctly concaved medially with two distinct lateral projections within queen individuals. The present investigation revealed that the mean values for queen were longer than worker and drones except mean of flagellum, and total antennal length, while the antennal scape with pedicel are longer than one in drones.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mean values of head length, and width, mandible length, and width, forewing length of drones are the shortest, also the number of hindwings hamuli are the least, excluding flagellum, total antennal length, and hind femoral length of worker which are the shortest. The head length 6.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 for queen and 4.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 for drones, queen head width 6.97\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03, and 5.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 for drones, antennal length is longer for drones 10.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07, slightly shorter for queens 10.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08, and distinctly shorter for workers 8.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05, forewing length 24.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12 for queens, and 19.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.16 for workers slightly longer in drones, hindwing length is 14.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19 for queens, and 12.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09 for workers and drones.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mean values of queen measurements are differ from the previous results obtained by Abou-Shaara, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e, on autumn queen which were distinctly shorter than the average values of head width, forewing length, forewing width, hindwing length, hindwing width, femur length, tibia length, and sting length by 1.45, 5.02, 0.24, 2.01, 0.38, 1.40, 1.24, and 0.75mm. The morphological with morphometrical characters are comprise a definitive methods to differentiate between queen, worker, and drones of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. and also between individuals of other species within eusocial species of order Hymenoptera. The results markedly indicate that queens are not just enlarged workers, and there are more differences between early summer or spring queens, which are completely different from workers and drones. With more considerations the individuals of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e queen, workers, and drones, shall be study, taking into accounts more attributes. The environmental conditions with climatic changes may be contribute to show a lot of variations within individuals of the original species of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e: The authors wish to express their gratitude to the owner and the custodian of the Collection Alfieri which belonging to Department of Plant Protection for the privilege of examining the specimens of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interests\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funding was received for conducting this study.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funds, grants, or other support was received\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbou-Shaara, H. (2017). Morphological Characterization and Wing Description of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis orientalis\u003c/em\u003e Queens, Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 33 (2): 251-259.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArcher, M. E. (1998). Taxonomy, Distribution and Nesting Biology of \u003cem\u003eVespa ortentalis\u003c/em\u003e L. (Hym., Vespidae). Entomologist\u0026apos;s Monthly Magazine 134: 45-51.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollins, F. H.; Finnerty, V. and Petrarca, V. (1988). Ribosomal DNA probes differentiate five cryptic species in the \u003cem\u003eAnopheles gambiae\u003c/em\u003e complex. Parasitologia (Rome), 30: 231- 240.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGelin, L.F.F.; Da Cruz, J.D.; Noll, F.B.; Giiannotti, E.; Dem Santos, G.M., and Bichara-Filho, C.C. (2008). Morphological Caste Studies In The Neotropical Swarm-Founding Polistinae wasp \u003cem\u003eAngiopolybia pallens \u003c/em\u003e (Lepeletier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Neotropical Entomology 37: 691-701.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHuxley, J. (1972). Problems of Relative Growth 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c/sup\u003e edition, Dover Publications Inc., New York.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIbrahim, M.M., and Mazeed, M.M. (1967). Studies on the oriental hornet \u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eorientalis\u003c/em\u003e L. Agri. Res. Rev. 45: 163-180.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJackson, J.M.; Pimsler, M.L.; Oyen, K.J.; Strange, J.P.; Dillon, M.E., and Lozier, J.D. (2020). Local adaptation across a complex bioclimatic landscape in two montane bumble bee species. Molecular Ecology, 29: 920\u0026ndash;939.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKhodairy, M. M. and Awad A. Azza (2013). A Study on the Sensory Structure, in Relation to Some Behavioral Ecology of the Oriental Hornet (\u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eorientalis \u003c/em\u003eL.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Life Science Journal 10(2): 1207- 1216.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLioy, S.; Carisio, L.; Manino, A., and Porporato, M. (2023). Climatic Niche Differentiation between the Invasive Hornet \u003cem\u003eVespa velutina nigrithorax\u003c/em\u003e and Two Native Hornets in Europe, \u003cem\u003eVespa crabro\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e. Diversity 15, 495. Pp 13.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMattila, H.R.; Otis, G.W.; Billen, J.; Nguyen, L.T.P., and Shimano, S. (2022). Comparison of the External Morphology of the Sternal Glands for Hornets in the Genus \u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e. Biology, 11, 245.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerrard, A. ; Villemant, C. ; Carpenter, J. M., and Baylac, M. (2012). Differences in caste dimorphism among three hornet species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): forewing size, shape and allometry, J. Evol. Biol. 25: 1389\u0026ndash;1398.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRobin E. Owen (2012). Applications of Morphometrics to the Hymenoptera, Particularly Bumble Bees (\u003cem\u003eBombus\u003c/em\u003e, Apidae), Morphometrics, Prof. Christina Wahl (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51-0172-7, In Tech, Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/ books/ morphometrics /applications of morphometrics to the Hymenoptera particularly bumble bees \u003cem\u003eBombus\u003c/em\u003e-Apidae.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRosa-Freitas, M. G.; Deane, L. M., and Momen, H. (1990). A morphological, isoenzymatic and behavioural study of ten populations of \u003cem\u003eAnopheles\u003c/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003eNyssorhynchus\u003c/em\u003e) \u003cem\u003ealbitarsis\u003c/em\u003e Lynch-Arribalzaga, 1878 (Diptera: Culicidae) including from the type-locality- Baradero, Argentina. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 85 (3): 275-289.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eS\u0026aacute;nchez, I.; Fajardo, M.C., and Castro, M. (2019) Primeras citas del avisp\u0026oacute;n oriental \u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eorientalis\u003c/em\u003e Linnaeus 1771 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) para Andaluc\u0026iacute;a (Espa\u0026ntilde;a). Revista de la Sociedad Gaditana de Historia Natural 13: 11\u0026ndash;14. [in Spanish]\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmith-Pardo, A. H.; Carpenter, J. M., and Lynn Kimsey (2020). The Diversity of Hornets in the Genus \u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Vespinae), Their Importance and Interceptions in the United States \u003cem\u003eInsect Systematics and Diversity,\u003c/em\u003e 4(3): 2; 1\u0026ndash;27\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWafaa, A.K.; ElBorolossy, F.F., and Charkawi, S.G. (1968). Studies on \u003cem\u003eVespa\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eorientalis\u003c/em\u003e. Bull. Ent. Soc. Egypt, Econ. Ser., 2: 9-27.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilson, E.O. (1971). The Insect Societies. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWright, A.; Lee, A., and Pearson, K. (1907). A cooperative study of queens, drones and workers in\u0026lsquo;\u0026lsquo;\u003cem\u003eVespa Vulgaris\u003c/em\u003e\u0026rsquo;\u0026rsquo;. \u003cem\u003eBiometrika \u003c/em\u003e5: 407\u0026ndash;422.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Vespa orientalis, Taxonomy, Colour forms, Forewing and Hindwing, Morphometrical characters","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4115617/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4115617/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eLarge-sized wasp, \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L., is a dangerous and widespread enemy to bee hives in Egypt and other countries of the world. There are eleven synonyms known as subspecies, colour forms or so called aberrations of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e, four of them are described from Egypt. Inadequate investigations have been used to identified these colour forms, especially depending upon colour features, without accreditation on other certainty characters such as male genitalia. Morphological with morphometric traits can help in verifying and distinguishing between the subspecies or other forms within individual species. In our study, some body structures of \u003cem\u003eV\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cem\u003eorientalis\u003c/em\u003e early queens, workers and drones from Egypt were measured including head length and width, mandibles length and width, antennal length, forewing length and width, hindwing length and width, number of hamuli, hind femora length, hind tibiae length and stinger. The result showed that the mean values were; queen head length 6.45\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 and 4.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03 for drones, queen head width 6.97\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.03, and 5.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04 for drones, antennal length is longer for drones 10.87\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.07, slightly shorter for queens 10.08\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.08, and distinctly shorter for workers 8.54\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.05, forewing length 24.21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12 for queens, and 19.89\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.16 for workers, hindwing length is 14.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.19 for queens, and 12.32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09 for workers and drones. Some of these characters are effective to discriminating the individual species and can be utilized to emphasized the identification the original species of \u003cem\u003eVespa orientalis\u003c/em\u003e L.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Morphological variation between queens, workers and drones of Vespa orientalis L. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae)","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-04-01 16:43:09","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4115617/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Major revisions","date":"2025-10-28T02:40:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2024-06-08T20:51:50+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-03-27T13:05:27+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-03-21T13:29:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","date":"2024-03-21T08:09:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"f52679e8-cd7b-476a-9e37-41840257e42b","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 1st, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-23T16:01:05+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-4115617","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01800-y","journal":{"identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isVorOnly":false,"title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science"},"publishedOn":"2026-03-19 15:58:29","publishedOnDateReadable":"March 19th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-04-01 16:43:09","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s42690-026-01800-y","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-026-01800-y","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4115617","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4115617","identity":"rs-4115617","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}