Abstract

This study investigated the seasonal occurrence patterns of overwintered queens and hornet workers (Vespa spp.) collected over two years (2022 and 2024) at an apiary in Daegu, South Korea. Using hornet attractant traps, 744 individuals representing eight Vespa species were collected, of which Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 and Vespa crabro Linnaeus, 1758 were the most frequently observed. The timing of the emergence of overwintered queens varied by species: Vespa mandarinia Smith, 1852 and V. velutina were the earliest to appear in early April, followed by V. crabro, Vespa analis Fabricius, 1775, and Vespa ducalis Smith, 1852. Workers began to emerge predominantly in mid-July, with populations peaking in August and September and declining sharply in October. Notably, following the application of a control method using an insecticide (clothianidin) in late July 2024, a marked decrease in the number of V. velutina workers was observed. This study highlights interspecific differences in the timing of colony development and provides foundational data for the effective management of hornets in apiary environments.