Vespa luctuosa
Encyclopedia
Vespa luctuosa is a species of hornet
which is endemic
to the Philippines
. The main subspecies is Vespa luctuosa luctuosa (primarily native to Luzon island
). Other known subspecies include Vespa luctuosa luzonensis (primarily native to the Visayas
, including Leyte island
and Samar Island
) and Vespa luctuosa negrosensis (native to Negros island). Vespa luctuosa is best known for its potent venom.
(Vespa mandarinia japonica), which has an LD50 of 4.1 mg/kg, but which is responsible for many more human deaths than Vespa luctuosa. The greater lethality of Japanese giant hornet stings—as well as the closely related Asian giant hornet
(Vespa mandarinia)—results from a considerably larger volume of venom being injected per sting and the aggressive nature of the giant hornet.
In addition to being the most venomous known wasp, Vespa luctuosa has one of the highest recorded toxicities of any known insect venom. Only harvester ant venom from the genus Pogonomyrmex
(especially Pogonomyrmex maricopa
), as well as the unrelated ant Ectatomma tuberculatum, are known to be more toxic.
In addition to pain at the sting site(s), symptoms of severe Vespa luctuosa envenomation include convulsions, cyanosis
and hematuria
.
Hornet
Hornets are the largest eusocial wasps; some species can reach up to in length. The true hornets make up the genus Vespa and are distinguished from other vespines by the width of the vertex , which is proportionally larger in Vespa and by the anteriorly rounded gasters .- Life cycle :In...
which is endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The main subspecies is Vespa luctuosa luctuosa (primarily native to Luzon island
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
). Other known subspecies include Vespa luctuosa luzonensis (primarily native to the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
, including Leyte island
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
and Samar Island
Samar Island
Samar is an island in the Visayas, within the central Philippines. The island is divided into three provinces: Samar province, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. These three provinces, along with the provinces on the nearby islands of Leyte and Biliran are part of the Eastern Visayas region...
) and Vespa luctuosa negrosensis (native to Negros island). Vespa luctuosa is best known for its potent venom.
Venom characteristics
The venom of Vespa luctuosa has the highest recorded toxicity of any known wasp species. The of the venom is 1.6 mg/kg. The toxicity per weight of Vespa luctuosa venom is higher than that of the Japanese giant hornetJapanese giant hornet
The Japanese giant hornet , is a subspecies of the Asian giant hornet . It is a large insect and adults can be more than long, with a wingspan greater than . It has a large yellow head with large eyes, and a dark brown thorax with an abdomen banded in brown and yellow...
(Vespa mandarinia japonica), which has an LD50 of 4.1 mg/kg, but which is responsible for many more human deaths than Vespa luctuosa. The greater lethality of Japanese giant hornet stings—as well as the closely related Asian giant hornet
Asian giant hornet
The Asian giant hornet , including the subspecies Japanese giant hornet , colloquially known as the yak-killer hornet, is the world's largest hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia...
(Vespa mandarinia)—results from a considerably larger volume of venom being injected per sting and the aggressive nature of the giant hornet.
In addition to being the most venomous known wasp, Vespa luctuosa has one of the highest recorded toxicities of any known insect venom. Only harvester ant venom from the genus Pogonomyrmex
Pogonomyrmex
Pogonomyrmex is a genus of harvester ants, occurring primarily in the deserts of North and South America. The genus name originated from the Greek language and refers to a beard-like structure, the psammophore, below the head , which can be found in most species of the subgenus sensu stricto...
(especially Pogonomyrmex maricopa
Pogonomyrmex maricopa
The Maricopa harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex maricopa, is one of the most common species of harvester ant species found in Arizona, USA. Its venom is believed to be the most toxic insect venom in the world....
), as well as the unrelated ant Ectatomma tuberculatum, are known to be more toxic.
In addition to pain at the sting site(s), symptoms of severe Vespa luctuosa envenomation include convulsions, cyanosis
Cyanosis
Cyanosis is the appearance of a blue or purple coloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to the tissues near the skin surface being low on oxygen. The onset of cyanosis is 2.5 g/dL of deoxyhemoglobin. The bluish color is more readily apparent in those with high hemoglobin counts than it is...
and hematuria
Hematuria
In medicine, hematuria, or haematuria, is the presence of red blood cells in the urine. It may be idiopathic and/or benign, or it can be a sign that there is a kidney stone or a tumor in the urinary tract , ranging from trivial to lethal...
.