New Records of Hornet Wasps of the Genus Vespa linnaeus (Hymenoptera:Vespidae) from Indian States and Bangladesh

The members of the genus Vespa of the subfamily Vespinae of the family Vespidae are commonly known as hornet wasps. Hornet wasps are predominantly found in the Oriental and Palaearctic Regions of the world. There are 23 valid species are reported worldwide of which 16 species from the Indian subcontinent and 15 species from India (Carpenter & Kojima, 1997). Economically, hornet wasps can be both beneficial and harmful. They are beneficial as predators of agricultural, forest and hygienic pests. The larvae and pupae of them are utilized as food in some parts of the world. They are harmful as they sting human beings and domesticated animals, they are the natural enemies of honey bees and they are damaging fruits by feeding just prior to harvest.