''Vespula flaviceps'' is a species of social

wasp A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder ...

in the genus ''

Vespula ''Vespula'' is a small genus of social wasps, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Along with members of their sister genus '' Dolichovespula'', they are collectively known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow jackets) in North ...

''. It found in Eastern Asia and Japan. Studies have suggested that the queens of this species may mate with more males and use sperm more evenly. The reason for this is not yet well understood.

Taxonomy

Synonyms

''V. flaviceps'' has been described by various other binomial names. A list of such names is presented below: *''Vespa flavior'' *''Vespa japonica'' *''Vespa karenkona'' *''Vespa lewisii'' *''Vespa quadrimaculata'' *''Vespa saussurei'' *''Vespula gracilia'' *''Vespula pionganensis'' *''Vespula yulongensis''

Subspecies

''V. flaviceps'' has two subspecies. They are ''V. f. flaviceps'' and ''V. f. lewisii''.

Distribution and habitat

''V. flaviceps'' is native to Eastern Asia and Japan. It can be found most prominently on the Japanese Islands, but is also present in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

and the southern portion of

Primorsky Krai Primorsky Krai, informally known as Primorye, is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject (a krais of Russia, krai) of Russia, part of the Far Eastern Federal District in the Russian Far East. The types of inhabited localities in Russia, ...

. Its population may be threatened by invasive

raccoon The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the North American, northern or common raccoon (also spelled racoon) to distinguish it from Procyonina, other species of raccoon, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest ...

s, which prey upon it during the summer and autumn. ''V. flaviceps'' is found in forests. During a two-year study in Japan, the species was observed to be one of the predominant species in the natural deciduous forests of northern

Kanto Japanese Kanto is a simplified spelling of , a Japanese word, only omitting the diacritics. In Japan Kantō may refer to: *Kantō Plain *Kantō region *Kantō-kai, organized crime group *Kanto (Pokémon), a geographical region in the ''Pokémon ...

. In 2001, it was officially recorded as one of the predominant species in this area, making up, along with two other species, 91% of all social wasps caught in a forest sampled. However, the same species was found to be much less abundant than ''

Vespa Vespa () is an Italian brand of scooters and mopeds manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy, to a ...

'' species when attracted using a different bait.

As food

''V. flaviceps'' is popular as food in Central Japan. All of its stages are consumed, but the larvae are considered a special delicacy. Small colonies may be collected and relocated into artificial hives near dwellings for the purpose of harvesting them for food. These colonies are sometimes even sheltered over the winter by humans, which benefits not only the humans but the wasps as well. This protection from the cold greatly helps their chances of survival. In some regions of Japan, ''V. flaviceps'' is eaten in a dish with rice. In the Chubu area (including Nagano,

Gifu is a Cities of Japan, city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. Durin ...

and

Aichi is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture ...

), a dish in which the larvae are prepared in rice is considered a delicacy. This dish is eaten during special events, especially the autumn festivals. ''V. flaviceps'' may be prepared cooked, fried, or pickled. Larvae and pupae are often taken from nests and seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, and artificial seasonings. Recently, collection of this species from inside Japan for food has decreased, and importation from Korea has increased.

References

External links

The History and Present Situation of Insect Foods in Japan : Focusing on Wasp and Hornet Broods
Full text {{Taxonbar, from=Q2717214 Vespidae Hymenoptera of Asia Insects described in 1870 Edible insects Taxa named by Frederick Smith (entomologist) ja:スズメバチ#クロスズメバチ