Characteristics of the Black-thorax Hornet and Its Application Value in Artificial Rearing

The black-thorax hornet is a large wasp of the genus Vespa in the family Vespidae, order Hymenoptera. It is usually regarded as a subspecies of the yellow-legged hornet and is named for its dark brown thoracic tergites. Adult wasps have black and yellow banding on the thorax and abdomen, with yellowish legs. They are noticeably larger than most other hornets, fly with a loud buzz, and are relatively easy to identify in the field.

The black-thorax hornet is mainly distributed in the southern regions of our country, and is most often seen in mountainous areas, hills and forest edges. It usually builds its nest high up in tree branches, shrubs or under eaves. The nest is a grayish-brown, papery, spherical structure with layered internal chambers. They are carnivorous insects that mainly prey on moths, flies and various other insects, and they help to some extent in controlling agricultural and forestry pests.

With the growth of the hornet farming industry, the black-thorax hornet has become one of the more closely followed species in artificial rearing. Rearing generally starts with the queen and goes through stages such as mating, overwintering, nest building and release for foraging. The income comes mainly from bee pupae and venom, giving it high economic value. However, the technical requirements for rearing are relatively high, and safety precautions must be taken. The site should be kept as far as possible from villages and densely populated areas.

The black-thorax hornet is aggressive in temperament and strongly defends its nest. When people or livestock come near the nest, they can easily be attacked by the whole colony. After being stung, the wound becomes red, swollen and burning; a small number of people with allergic constitutions may have more serious reactions and need prompt treatment and medical attention as soon as possible. If you encounter a nest in the wild, do not swat at it or disturb it. When necessary, ask professionals to deal with it to avoid danger.