Social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Polistinae, Vespinae) of the Bolshekhekhtsirsky Nature Reserve (The Khabarovsk Suburbs), with notes on their distribution in the Lower Amur

Abstract

A list of social wasp species is given for the Bolshekhekhtsirsky Nature Reserve (Ussuri river mouth, Khabarovsk suburbs, Russia). It includes 4 species of Polistes, 7 species of Vespa, 6 species of Vespula, 3 species of Dolichovespula. Vespa binghami, V. analis, V. mandarinia and Dolichovespula adulterina are reported from the Amur River valley for the first time; Polistes nimpha, Vespa ducalis and Vespula shidai are firstly recorded from the Khabarovsk Krai. North-eastern limits of species distribution are revealed along the Amur River valley, namely: Komsomolsk-na-Amure for Polistes chinensis and Vespa analis; Kiselevka (51º 25' N 139º 01' E) for Polistes snelleni, P. nimpha, Vespa dybowskii, Vespula koreensis and V. shidai; Amur river mouth for Polistes riparius, Vespa simillima and V. crabro.