Asian Journal of 1I'opical Biology 1(2), 11-17 (1995)

Colonies of Vespa affinis {L.} are larger in tropic regions compared with colonies in the sub-tropics, despite having similar durations of colony cycle. In sub-tropical areas, colonies are exclusively monogynous {single mother queen} but they are predominantly polygynous {m~ul~iple queens} in tropical areas. Queens from the polygynous colonies had ovaries which were in a similar co!}dition and measurements of their ovarian index suggests that the eggs present in the nest were probably laid by more than one queen. The numbers of eggs in nests up to 2000 cells were similar, iITespective of the number of laying queens present in a colony.