Abstract / Introduction / Summary:
Vespa mandarinia was discovered on Kuchinoerabu Island in 2023. In this study, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA sequence of V. mandarinia to trace its origins on Kuchinoerabu, Yakushima, Tsushima, and Kyushu Islands. The mitochondrial DNA haplotype (COXI) of V. mandarinia from Kuchinoerabu Island was identical to that from Kagoshima but differed from that of Yakushima. We suggest that V. mandarinia was unintentionally and artificially introduced to Kuchinoerabu Island.
