Over four years (2020–2023), 305 traps were strategically placed across South Korea to collect data on Vespidae species. Our findings showed that Vespula flaviceps, Vespa crabro, and Vespula koreensis were the most frequently encountered species. Vespa velutina was also widespread, suggesting its successful integration into local ecosystems. The ARL analysis, using the “apriori” algorithm, identified significant co-occurrence patterns and potential interactions. The rules generated indicated both competitive and coexistent relationships with varying levels of association strength across different regions. Clustering analyses, including hierarchical and k-means clustering, grouped species based on their occurrence similarities. The distinct clusters formed in the analysis highlighted the unique ecological roles and interactions of V. velutina and other Vespidae species in South Korean ecosystems.

사회성 말벌류의 분류학적 연구는 과거 1960-1980년도까지 1차적으로 한국산 말벌을 정리하여 그 개략적인 윤곽이 나타났으며 90년대 이후 전문 분류학자들에 의해 연구되어 현재 남한지역에서 보고된 사회성 말벌류는 총 2아과 5속 30종이다. 그러나 아직도 분류학적 논의가 필요한 종이 남아 있는 상태이며 특히 각 계급별 및 벌집의 특성은 아직 밝혀지지 않은 종들이 많은 상태이다. 최근 들어서는 외래종 말벌의 침입을 통해 전국으로 확산되고 있는 가운데 공중보건적, 경제적, 생태적 피해가 나타남에 따라 이들의 조절 및 관리에 대한 연구가 일부 진행되고 있다. 또한 기후변화 및 도시화에 의해 전국적으로 말벌류가 증가함에 따라 119 소방서의 벌집제거수가 연간 20만건을 나타내고 있으며 각종 벌쏘임 사고가 빈발하여 연간 10여명의 사망사고가 나타나고 있어 이에 대한 국가적 대책이 필요한 실정이다. 또한 최근 말벌을 이용하여 만든 노봉방주의 수요가 급증하는 가운데 이들의 과학적 검증에 대한 요구가 증가하면서 독성, 타액 등의 효능분석 및 유해성 분석도 일부 진행되고 있다. 그 외 말벌의 공격성분석, 먹이 원분석, 사냥행동 특성, 기생, 천적 등의 생태적 연구도 일부 진행 중에 있다. 이처럼 말벌에 대한 사회적 문제가 커지고 있음에도 불구하고 국내의 말벌 전문 학자 부족으로 인해 가시적인 연구 성과가 미진하며 문제 해결에 대해 제대로 대처하지 못하고 있는 상황이다.

Vespa crabro is a cosmopolitan social wasp species whereas Vespa analis is commonly found in Asia. Both species are widely distributed in Korea and known to be aggressive when disturbed, resulting in frequent sting accidents. Although major venom components of well known Vespa wasps have been reported, no comparative transcriptomic analysis of venom gland between V. crabro and V. analis has been conducted to date. To investigate the differences in venom properties between these two wasps, total RNA was extracted from each venom gland and used for RNA-sequencing. A total of 31 venom-specific genes were identified in both venom gland transcriptomes but their expression profiles were different between V. crabro and V. analis. Venom allergen 5, premastoparan A and phospholipase A were the top three genes that were most prevalently transcribed in the venom gland of V. crabro, and their transcription rates were 902-, 112- and 4164-fold higher compared with V. analis, respectively, as judged by FPKM values. Their differential transcription profiles were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. In the venom gland of V. analis, however, premastoparan A was most abundantly transcribed gene, followed by calponin and tropomysin. In general, most venom-specific genes were more abundantly expressed in V. crabro but some genes exhibited higher transcription rates in V. analis, including muscle LIM protein, troponin, paramyosin, calponin, etc. Our findings suggest that V. crabro produce venom with much more enriched venom components, thereby with higher toxicity compared with V. analis.

This study selected 10 species commonly emerging in Busan and Daegu showing distinct green structure distributions, and distribution differences were mapped and analyzed according to city of origin. As for G-IS (Green-Inhabiting Species) of both cities, there were six species, including V. mandarinia, V. ducalis, V. crabro flavofasciata, Vl. koreensis koreensis, Pa. indica, and P. snelleni, which mostly inhabited urban source green and satellite green structures. As for GU-IS (Green & Urban-Inhabiting Species), there were two species, V. simillima simillima and V. analis parallela, which nested at diverse sites and showed greater preference for green structures. On the other hand, U-IPS (Urban-Inhabiting Preference Species) consisted of two species, V. velutina nigrithorax and P. rothneyi koreanus, which nested at almost all sites, including urban and urban green areas, and were found to adapt well to an urban environment based on their far higher rate of urban nesting as compared to GU-IS species. In comparing emergence rates among the four urban GU-IS and U-IPS species in Busan and Daegu, regular distribution was mostly observed within the city of Busan, which is well equipped with a green network, whereas Daegu, which lacks green structure connectivity, showed its greatest distribution of species nearby urban green areas. Also this study shows that in Daegu with longer distance between green, U-IPS emerged up to far site beyond green areas as compared to Busan, which has short distances between green areas.