The distribution of the Hornet (Vespa c. crabro L.) in northwestern Europe
STELLAN ERLANDSSON
Erlandsson, S.: The distribution of thc Hornet (Vesps c. crabro L ) in northwestern Europe.
[BAlgetingens (lzesp a c. crabro L.) utbredning i nordviistra Europa.]- Ent Tidskr. 109:155- 159. Umei. Sweden 1988. ISSN 0013-886x.
The distribution ofthe Hornet ( yespa c . c r ab ro L.) inF entoscan di a and Dcnmark is presented on a map and records are listed in the text. At present the Hornei occurs esPecially in so,uthern- most anri southeastern Sweden. It has seemingly disappeared from both Finland and Norway, and must be regarded as endangercd in Sweden.
S. Erlandsson. Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O.B. 50007, 5'104 05 Stockholm, Swe- den.
I have followed thc distribution of the Hornet, Vespa c. crabro L., in northwestern Europe for 40 years. During this period a pronounced decrease in the frequency of records as well as a reduction of the geographical range have been documented.
I will here list the records known to me from the studied region and present a distribution map (Fig. 1).
Sweden
sK: Nasum 7.V11.58.t9 (EDSS): Hdkoping3.X.70. l?
(WEHS); Skiiralid ll.lX.72. IQ: Stenshuvud ? 72. I!
(HEOS); Bontaback in Vombsjon 75 77 (LQTS): 1 km N Vombsjcin -77, 19 (LQTS); M<,lle-Hassle 20.V11.77,
tt (ATMS); Hickcberga 1.1X.77. l9 (ENSS); Biuv :0.IX.78. ld (HYOS); Arlov. Arkisagirden 6.IX.78.
lcf (NSNS); Kvidinge, Tomarps kungsgird -83, l?
(PSNS); Hissleholm 1970-76 (GNTS)i Borringe kloster 'l 19 (WLNS)i Vinsldv -76 (CNTS); Sjdbo -77 (PNHS)t Svedala -78 (PNHS); Everltiv, Humlerodshus -77 (PNHS); Svedala -78 (PNI{S) I Everl6v, Humlerddshus - 77 (SGNS); Kullaberg 3.vll.7l, 1? (ANHS); Havang 18.IX.56, 16J (AHNS); Skines Fagerhult 13.IV.86 (LNOS); I have received from the Zoological Depa - ment, University of Lund, the following localities; Bil- linge. Bdkeberga. Frostavallen. Hallands Vide16, Hddr. llstorp, Pasjd. Relleberga. Rdsjdholm. Silvekra.
O. Broby. O. Kallrorp. BL: Saxemara 18.lv.4q. I ? (HNBS); Rosenholm l2.Vlll.7l, l! (ENSS); R<ideby 2.1.VII.70. 19. 19.V1I.72, 19 (ENSS); Karlskrona.
Torhamn, Hemsjri, Tjiirno, Ronneby, Mockleryd (Zool. Dept. Lund). HA: Siirti. Kullavik ? (HMLS):
Enslor. Arnilt:1.1X.50. 1Q (ANHS): Skedala (Lund).
SM: Kiillvik 23-24.VII1.1890 (RMNS); Visings<t 26.1X.4?. ld (FRLS); Melilla 28.V.48. lQlMisterhult.
tsaggestorp 22.v1.52. l9; Ovcrrum 16 1X.58, l?
(LOHS); Flisby. Branstorp l6.vIII.59. I Q (EDSS);
Frinnaryd 2. Vtlt.71 several Q Q: Konga. counlry estate 5.v11.75. t? (LOHS): MadesJo 2.vllt.7l.l?9 49?
(ANGS); Bjork<, in the archipelago of Viistervik 21.v11.77. lQ (ARMS); Misterhult ? -77 (BKBS);
Stensjo 30.IX.77.1? (GNtsS); Gasslanda 13 km N. Viix-
jd (BRLS); Simpvarp. 20 km NNE Oskarshamn
29.1X.17, lQ: Avre vid Hennefjord W Simpvarp l-77.
I ? (LGES); T<trnefors, Almvik 4 km VAstervik 6.V1.78 tQ; Viistervik -83 (SNJS); TorsAs. Sk<ivde: Callabois -(r9, Torsas: Pilsmila -69. Torsas: Stromby -71. Piryd:
Vorehult -71, Gunnebo factory (all com. GTNS);Toves- rum (com. LLRS.;: Rys'hy: Drag2.VL42, I ?.21.VI.42,
l?. I VIl.42. l? (KAKS). OL: Glumminge 25.Vl.32.
lQ. e.vllt..r2. lQ (HGRS): Hiigsrum: Ekerum
:8.VL32, I ? Boda: Byerum 2f, VL5l. l9 (WSI-S); Bti- da rarlway stalion 5.x.17. l9 (HNBS): Torslunda
7.VIII.7l, lV. ll.VIll.7l. lQ: vickleby, Beiiershamn
I l.VIII.7l. I Q, Byerum 26.V.77. tQ. nest in a beehive (CBCS)r Algutsrum 10.VI1.71. lt: Halltorp 19.lX.71,
l!; Torslunda 19.1X.7'?,2dd (SBGS); Tiivelsrum 20.VIL70, 19,6.IX.71, 1? (NNAS); Algutsrum, Hdns- rorp -77, l9 (LGES); Pctersholm -07 and -72. I nest:
Strandtorp -72. I ncst (com, NTGS): Vickleby l.1.VIIl.72. l9 (COLS)i Borgholm. Halltorp. Rella.
Rcsmo (Lund). OC: Kinna-Orby -13, l? (twLS):
Ringstorp 20.V.20 l9 (MNLS); Norkoping 7.V.23, l!: St. Anna: Missio 13.VII.27, l9 (WSJS); Kisa
24.vI..11, 1t; V. Eneby 16.VIII..1l. l9 (LOHS); Vist, Stavsetter 2.VIII.70. I nest in old ashtree; Bjiirka-Saby, nest in oak: St. Anna: Ramsudd. nest in outhouse ([ILNS)l Simonstorp 3.VI.70, I ! (AXLS); St. Brekd.
Drdgen, I nest -71 (GTNS); Gryt, St. Syltvik -77 several nests: Motala 16.VIII.78, l9 (CDBS)l Oppeby, Ryle
2l.vll.'1'l,3?? (KLNS); St. Anna rrchipelago near
156 Stellan Erlandsson
Fig. l. Distribution of the Hornet, Vespa c. crobro L. in northwestern Europe. The northern limit of the Oak, Oaer-
cus robur, is shown with a black line (from Hultdn 1950, map 602). Records irom GDR, Poland or Balticum were not studied.
BAlgetingens (Vespa..c_.
.crabro 1,,) utbredning i nordviistra Europa, Ekens nordgrans har markerats med hetdragen linje (efter Hultdn 1950, karta 602). Fynd frin Osttyskland. Polen och Balticum-har inte studerats.
Harstena -86 (AKTS); Kolmardens djurpark, Fjug 85-
86 (LBGS); Finspeng. Rystad, Arkdsund. Nykil, Link6-
ping, Frdsta (Lund). VG: krdala, Sparresater 2l.VIll.1821. C. J. Schdnherr; Nii?is 4 km Floda railway station (HTGS). BO: Torsby ? (ADRS): Torskog, VIIL77. I ? (ALMS). NA: Aikersund 28.VIII.40. lQ
(KHRS)I Orehro -46. 299 (JDCS). SO: Toresund
2q.v.18. l9 (SMNS): Mariefred 20.V1.29. l!
(ARVS):Tvresci Castle 28.VIII.47. lQ (EDSS): Age- sta -50, 3 nests, -54 I nest (GTNS); Rinda, Granskiir -76. I Q (SWES); Sundbyholm -78 (ENSS);Salem, Fo- gelsta 24.VIIL79, 39 ? (EDSS); Stjiirnhov, Sotbacka
20.VIIL8-3. l?. ll.VIlt.85. l4.Vlll.86 only a few uorkers: Sparreholm 23.v111.85 nest in old oak-trec (JLAS): K.rtrineholm, Guleniiset 8G-87 nest (RGES)l Stigtomta 12.Vt.86. l? (LDWS); Tyres<i: Vissvass (LLRS); Gnesta -79 (NOLS);Dag<i country estate be- tween Flen and Katrincholm :) VIl.87 nest (WLDS)i Wijk manor near Flcn. a few specimens in the dwel- ling-house -87 (AKTS): Ensta, Fogdd, Hesselby, Htil<i. Sofielund. Viisterhaninge, Cutholmen (Lund).
UP: Tierp 1898. 19 (RMNS)i Stockholm, Frescati ? I ! (MLSS): Uppsala ?, I t (I-GWS); Uppsala, Grane- berg 21.VL46, l? (SMHS)r Djurci 27.vI1I.44. 1!
{NSFS): Rosersbcrg Casrle 4.1X.47. 1Q: Stockholm.
Kallhagen 22.V1.41{. -1QQ. workers atracked honey hees visiting flowering Solidogo canadenJir; Ostane the ferry-berth, nest in boat-house 28.VII1.65, tQ (EDSS): Danmark. Edeby -16. lt (FGSS)r Dande-
rvd. Mrirbv 22.Vlll.5l. ld: Ostereker. Hdllbacka 1.rx.51. lQ (FRLS); Rcsarii 9.VII.7l. rc' (MALS):
O. Rvd, Siivsjdholm 2l.VIll. ?. I Q (KTRS); V:a Dels- holm -731 Eldgarn; 2t! (KDES): Tursbo 'l l9
(LBDS): lngarct, Klackndset ? VII.83, 1Q (EKLS):
Uppsala? 1Q (LGWS); Blidci, Enk<iping. N Viirmd<i, Siiderby-Karl. Ultuna (Lund). VS: Kiirrbo -57 (wSTS): Ridd. Ormhiill 30.VII.77. 799 (KRSS).
VR: Arvil,a 6.VIIL0l. I9.7.Vlll.0l. l? (BGSS):
Karlskoga 7.V.16, I? (KLFS). DR: Ludvika, Norr- biirke 29.V|11.47.4?? (FRLS). GA: Hille. Forsby l6.Vlll.47.- 19 {FHLS). NB: Karungi, Korpikylii r6.vr.4r. r? (BKPS).
Many of the Swedish rccords are from the for- ties, and there is a marked decrease in the number of observations during the last 20 years.
The Hornet was common in the Stockholm area and along Lake Milaren, here nesting mainly in
cavities of old Oaks, Quercus robur, and
Maples,,4cer platanoides. Several years ago nests occurred outside the Swedish Museum of Natural History. About ten years ago the Hor- net has seemingly disappeared from this area.
and the situation is similar in many other dis-
t r icts.
The present Swedish distribution is limited to the southern and eastern parts of the mainland up to southern CAstrikland. Hornets also occur in the Baltic archipelago and on Oland. but arc abseni from Gotland. Four records, the latest from 1977, are known from the Gothenburg reg- ion on the west coast. Thc Hornet was recorded from Sparresiiter in northern Vastergdtland to- gether with the coleopteran nest-parasite yel- leius dilatatus (Fabr.) by C. J. Sch<inherr in 1821
(Lundblad i949:148). The single record from northernmost S*eden is very isolated and most probably accidental.
The Hornet in norlhweslern Europe 757
Denmark, Finland and Norway
Denmark (Natural History Muse um, Arhus): NEZ- Kp- bcnhavn. Amager. Kongelunden 17.tX.59 (JNPD);
NWZ. Jvderup 18.lX.l4 (LCRD). Esrum 5.Vll l6 ?:
hJ. Srlkeborg ( ? ). Lille Esbonderup ( L( RD): SJ. Aben- ra 12.IX.36 (FDLD), Froslev 25.VI.ru (BCHD), Ha- derslev 20.X.69 (LHAD); F. Kerteminde 19.1X.70 (JNFD), Ramso E of Kertemindc 1-l l.IX.70 (several collectors).
Finlend: Al. Forsius & Nordstrdm (1923:7), without lo- cality; N. Mantsala (NSOF); Ka. Koivisto (KPNF), RaisAli and Vuoksi (AJEF); lk. Kuokkala and Oblila (SASF. WSAF), Rajajoki, Sakkola (KANF), Terijoki ('l); Sa. Joutseno (BTCF), Taipalsari (MFWF);Kl. Sor- tavala (KANF. TULF);Kol. Kendjiirvi (TULF), Tule- majiirvi (NAPF), Uuksujiirvi (KITF); Kb. Valtimo 4.VI.38 (VAEF); Kon. Kontapoh.la (?), Vilga (TULF).
The few Finnish localities are in the southern part of the country. and the distribution is to the east connected with that in the Soviet Union.
The Danish distribution is mainly limited to the islands and a few localities in eastern Jutland. The latter records are probably connected with those from NW Germany, where the Hornet is still com- mon in Oldenburg (Haeseler, in litt. ).
In Norway the records are mainly limited to a few sitcs along the Oslo Fjord, with some isolated, morc southern records. According to Loken (in litt.), the Hornet has not been found in Norway for tlO years. The species has secmingly disappear- ed from Norway.
Discussion
The northern limit of the distribution of the Hor- nct in Scandinavia and Finland is congruent with that of the Oak (Fig. l). This limit is in Sweden al- most identical with the "Limcs Norrlandicus".
which separates approximatcly the boreal and subboreal vegetation zones. Lindroth (1939)
showed the same distribution pattern for the cara- bid beetle Agonum obscurum (Herbst), and rela- tcd this limit to the isotherm of 9.3"C during May and September.
'l'he reasons for the declinc of thc Fennoscan- dian Hornet populations havc not bcen establish- ed. As Hornets originally nest in cavities of old trees, the almost total absence of suitable trees in wcstcrn Sweden is probably a contributing factor of high importance. For several centuries the Oak was the predominating tree species used for nest- ing. Until 1658, in the Swedish provinces Scania, Blekinge, Halland and Bohusliin that then belong- ed to Denmark, extensive felling of Beech, Fagus
158 Stellan L,rlantlsson
sylvatica, took placc lor transport to the Danish castles (Lindquist 1931). These fellings probably included Oak as wcll, despite prohibitation in con- nection wilh severe punishment.
Most Hornet nesls are associated with bcs- keeping, and I have occasionally observed Hor- nets predating on honey-bees. During the last summers only a few observations of the Hornet have been reported from Sweden. This decline is probably associated with the unfavourable wcath- er conditions, and the changing climate may thus strongly affcct thc distribution. ln order to solve the problcm of thc gradual disappearance of the Hornet in Fcnnoscandia. we must continue to do- cument its currcnl occurrence.
List of collectors
Sweden: ATMS = M. Ahlstedt. AKMS = O. Almdn.
AKTS : L. Almkvist. ANRS = K. Ander. ANGS = G.
Andersson, ANHS = H. Andersson, ARVS = H. Ar-
vidsson. AXLS = R. Axelsson, BKBS : B. Beck.IIGSS
= S. Bengtsson, BKNS = B. Bj<irkman, BKPS = P.
Brinck. BRLS = L. Brundin. CBGS = B. Cederberg.
COLS = S. Colliandcr. F-KLS = M. Ehrnkull. ENSS :
B. Ehnstrdm. F.DSS = S. Erlandsson. FHLS = K. Fah- lander. FRLS: K.-[l. lorsslund, FRES = L. Frcgclius.
GDBS : J. Gardberg. GTHS = N. Gonnert, GNBS = B. Gustatison. HLNS: C. Hallin. HNBS: B. Han- son, HTGS = H. Hanvig. HCNS: G. Hedgren, HEQS
- K.-J. Hedqvist. HMKS - M.-L. Henriks-son. tlQfS
= G. Hrrlmquirt. HYOS = P. Hrlmtt. JLAS - L.-A
Janzon. Jf)CS = Ch. Jadcrlund. KLNS : L. Karlen.
KTRS = A. Kislncr. KDRS = E. Kjellander, KLFS :
E. Kleftreck. I-GF,S = S. Lange. LLRS = T.-E. Leiler,
LGWS: W. Liljcborg, LNDS = N.-O. Lindman,
LQTS = K. Lindquist. LC'IS : S. Ljungquist, LGBS = B. Ljunggren. LOHS : H. Lohmander. LDWS = W.
Lund. LBGS = S. Lundberg, LBLS = O. Lundblad.
MLSS = R. Malaisc, MBGS = G. v. Malmborg. MLNS
- B. Mclin. NNAS = A. Nilsson. NSNS = G. Nilsson.
NSTS: F. Nordstnim. NOLS = L. n-ordn, OLNS = V.
Olsson, PSNS : S. Persson, RGES = B. Ringselle.
RMNS = A. Roman, SMNS = E. Sellman, SMHS = H.
Smith, SWES : L. Struwe, SNBS = B. G. Sve nsson,
SNIS = L Svensson.'IWLS : A. Ternwall. WSTS = U.
Wahlstsdt. WENS : H. W. Walddn. WLNS = H. Wa- l6n. WSLS = E. Wieslander. WLDS: B. Wiklund,
WSJS = G. wiingsjo, ARMS : L. Akerman.
Denmark: BCHD = Blach. FDLD : Findal, JNFD = F. Jensen. JNPD : P. Johannesen, LCRD = C. R. t.ar- sen. LHAD = A. Lindebo-Hansen.
Finland: AJEF = J. E. Aro, BTCF : C. Blomquisl, BEFF = E. F. Bonsdorff. KANF = N. Kanerva, KPNF
: Kauppinen. KITF = T. Kontuniemi. MFWF: f'. W.
Maklin. NAPF = P. l,liemelii. NSDF = E. Norden-
skictld. NGCF: C. Nyberg, SAAF: A. Seppiilii,
TULF : L. Tiensuu. VAEF = E. Valleala, WSAF = A.
Wegelius
Acknowledgements
I am grateful to Dr M. Archer, York for reading ihe manuscript. I would like to thank Dr G. An- dcrsson, Gothenburg, Dr H. Andersson. Lund, Prof. Dr V. Haeseler. pldenburg. Dr L.-4. Jan.
zon. slockholm. Mr T.-E. Leiler, Vallentuna, Dr A. Loken, Oslo, Mag. A. Pekkarinen, Helsinki, for sending me specimens or information of the Hornet. I have a particular dept of gratitude to the late Mr N. Gonnert for the generous presentation of his comprehensive notes, and to Dr B. Peder-
sen. Copenhagen. for a map with Danish localities.
References
Andersson, H.. Coulianos. C.-C., Ehnstr<im, B., Ham- marsredr. O..lmby. L.. Janzon. L.-4.. Lrndeldw.
A. & Walden. H. W.. 1987. Hotadc evenebraler i Sverige. - Ent. Tidskr, 10lt: 65-75.
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6ti.
Fahlander. K. 195,1. Hvmenopterii fran Gastrikland. -
Ent. Tidskr. 75: 253.
Forsius. R. & Nordstrrinr. A. 1923. Zur Kenntnis der Vespiden Finnlands. - Notul. Entom. 3: 1-9.
Hoop, M. 1967. Die Aculcatcn der Insel Helgoland. -
Schr. Naturw. Vcr. Schlcsw.-Holst. 37: :1.1.
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Sammanfattning
Sedan ,10 Ar tillbaka har jag fdljt bilgetingens upp- tradande i Sverige och har darvid kunnat konsta- tcra den stadiga minskningen av fynd iiven inom omrAden diir den tidigare ej var ovanlig. Numera finns den endast i stidra och sydtistra delen, Malar- dalen och pi Oland. Aldsta noterade fyndet ar frAn l82l, di C. J. Schcinherr fann den pe sin egen- dom Sparresdter, Lerdala sn i norra Vestergot- land-
I Norge iir den sedan Atskilliga 6r tillbaka helt forsvunnen. I Finland tycks tendensen vara den- samma som i Sverige. I Danmark finns den fortfa- randc.
Den medtagna utbredningskartan ir baserad pi
The Hornet in northwestern Europe 159
de av mig kiinda fynden. Den visar, att bllgeting- cn tillhor ekregionens insekter. Den verkliga orsa- ken till bilgetingens successiva forsvinnande ar ett problem, som aterstar att ldsa.
Aleksandrs Sulcs
*22.11 .l9ll f8.l l. 1987
lnlc utan anledning har svenska entomologer ge- nom Aren riktatzett speciellt intresse mot den bal- tiska insektsfaunan. Nir nu cn av dess frimsta kannare, Aleksandrs Sulcs frin Riga i Lettland, avlidit, har ocksi svensk, och kanske hn mer finsk, fj iirilsforskning fcirlorat en viktig utpost.
Alcksandrs Sulcs borjade samla fjiirilar redan 1929 och under 1930-talet vistades han sommartid
pi olika orter i Leltland varvid samlingen stadigt vaxte. l93l pabd,rjade han studier i matematik och naturvetenskap vid Lettlands Universitet. Han specialiserade sig pe systematisk zoologi och avla- clc sin magisterexamen 1939. Under perioden 1936-1944 arbetade A. Sulcs som tiirare, f f a i Ri- ga, varefter han tj?instgjordc som f<irestindare ftjr
den zoologiska avdelningcn i Naturvetenskapliga
