龍洞蜂類生態簡介 Long Dong's Bees and Wasps

ben30003tw
May 10, 2021
10 min read

Updated: May 16

文字、影像：蔡明憲 | Ben

*位於龍洞後門的東方蜂｜Eastern honey bee at the Back Door of Long Dong.*

對很多人來說，只要是嗡嗡嗡會飛的，會停在花朵上的都稱為蜜蜂，但其實並不是這樣。中文有些字會單獨使用，例如貓、狗、魚，但「蜂」這個字常與人類喜愛的「蜜」字合用，造成錯誤的理解與判斷。 For many people, anything that flies with a buzzing sound and lands on flowers is called a "bee." However, that’s not entirely accurate. In Chinese, some animal names stand alone, like cat, dog, or fish, but the word “bee” (蜂) is often paired with “honey” (蜜), leading to misunderstandings.

蜜蜂是昆蟲，所有的昆蟲分類學上都屬於昆蟲綱 (Insecta)，昆蟲綱之下的膜翅目 (Hymenoptera) 昆蟲有蜂類和蟻類，分別屬於蜜蜂總科 (Apoidea)、胡蜂總科 (Vespoidea) 和蟻總科 (Formicoidea)。蜂類泛指所有寄生性、訪花性與狩獵型蜂類的昆蟲，全球保守估計至少有 12 萬種，訪花性蜂類大約 30,000 種，多數的蜂沒有複雜的社會行為，生性害羞，攻擊性極低，只有蜜蜂科 (Apidae)、蜜蜂屬 (Apis) 之下的才能稱為蜜蜂。在英文 bee 和 honey bee 是不同的字，bee 泛指蜜蜂總科 (Apoidea) 的成員，在這之中具有複雜社會行為、會把蜜存放在巢房內才叫做 honey bee，因此蜜蜂只是成千上萬種蜂類的少數幾種而已。根據目前研究所知，全世界的蜜蜂只有 9 種，在臺灣能夠人為飼養的蜜蜂分別為東方蜂 (Apis cerana) 與西洋蜂 (Apis mellifera)，都是比較溫馴的蜂種，經常築巢在石縫或樹洞中，較不會影響到攀岩者的安危。Bees are insects, and all insects belong to the class Insecta. Within this class, the order Hymenoptera includes bees and ants, which are further divided into the superfamilies Apoidea (bees), Vespoidea (wasps), and Formicoidea (ants). The term “bee” broadly refers to all parasitic, flower-visiting, and hunting types of bees. There are at least 120,000 known bee species worldwide, with around 30,000 species being flower-visiting. Most bees are solitary, shy, and non-aggressive. Only those in the family Apidae, genus Apis, are considered true honey bees. In English, “bee” and “honey bee” are distinct terms. “Bee” refers to all members of the superfamily Apoidea, while “honey bee” specifically refers to those that exhibit complex social behavior and store honey in hives. Honey bees represent just a small fraction of all bee species. According to current research, there are only nine species of honey bees worldwide. In Taiwan, the two species that can be domesticated are the Eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) and the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). These are relatively gentle species that often build nests in rock crevices or tree hollows and typically pose little threat to climbers.

龍洞常見的社會性蜂類 Common Social Wasps in Long Dong

除了蜜蜂，在龍洞最常發現的社會性蜂類主要是胡蜂科 (Vespidae) 之下的胡蜂亞科 (Vespinae) 及長腳蜂亞科 (Polistinae)，其中令人聞風喪膽的 虎頭蜂 (hornet) 屬於胡蜂亞科，而相對較溫馴的則是長腳蜂亞科之下的 長腳蜂 (wasp)。長腳蜂、虎頭蜂與蜜蜂是不同的生物，生物學習性不盡相同。長腳蜂是最容易被誤認為「恐怖蜂類」的一群，因此常被誤殺，但牠們其實比虎頭蜂還要溫馴。牠們跟虎頭蜂一樣會築巢在岩壁上，也會叮人，只是攻擊的行為常發生在蜂巢受到驚擾與拍打。根據多年觀察與記錄，最常出現在龍洞的長腳蜂為 褐長腳蜂 (Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenebricosus) 和 黃長腳蜂 (Polistes (Gyrostoma) rothneyi)。 Apart from honeybees, the most commonly observed social wasps in Long Dong belong to the subfamilies Vespinae and Polistinae within the family Vespidae. Among them, the fearsome hornets are part of the Vespinae subfamily, while the comparatively more docile paper wasps belong to the Polistinae subfamily. Paper wasps, hornets, and honeybees are distinct species with differing biological behaviors. Paper wasps are often mistaken for dangerous stinging insects and are frequently killed due to this misidentification, although they are actually less aggressive than hornets. Like hornets, paper wasps also build nests on rock faces and can sting, but they typically only attack when their nests are disturbed or struck. Based on years of observation and documentation, the most frequently seen paper wasps in Long Dong are Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenebricosus and Polistes (Gyrostoma) rothneyi.

褐長腳蜂是龍洞常見蜂種，較為溫馴，除非觸碰到牠們否則不輕易叮人｜The paper wasp (Polistes) is a common species in Long Dong. It is relatively docile and generally will not sting unless provoked or physically disturbed.

*黃長腳蜂 – 攝於龍洞黃金谷小徑｜Yellow paper wasp – Photographed at Golden Valley Trail, Long Dong.*

常在龍洞築巢的虎頭蜂主要有 黃跗虎頭蜂 (又稱黃腳虎頭蜂 – Vespa velutina) 與 姬虎頭蜂 (Vespa ducalis)。 The hornets that commonly nest in Long Dong include the Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) and the Black-bellied Hornet (Vespa ducalis).

*黃跗虎頭蜂，又名黃腳虎頭蜂 – 攝於龍洞後門｜Yellow-legged Hornet – Photographed at Back Door, Long Dong.*

1987 年郭木傳及葉文和教授針對 7 種虎頭蜂進行研究，將攻擊性分為五個等級，可以得知不同種類的虎頭蜂的攻擊性不盡相同，並非所有的虎頭蜂都有很強的攻擊行為。 In 1987, Professors Kuo Mu-Chuan and Yeh Wen-Ho conducted a study on seven species of hornets, classifying their aggressiveness into five levels. The results showed that different hornet species exhibit varying degrees of aggressiveness, and not all hornets display highly aggressive behavior.

第一級 Lvl. 1	人們接近蜂巢距離 5m 就有攻擊行為 Attack behavior occurs when people approach within 5m of the nest.
第二級 Lvl. 2	與蜂巢距離 2–5m 就有攻擊行為 Attack behavior occurs when people are within 2–5m of the nest.
第三級 Lvl. 3	距離 0.3–2m 就有攻擊行為 Attack behavior occurs when people are within 0.3–2m of the nest.
第四級 Lvl. 4	距離 0.3m 以內就有攻擊行為 Attack behavior occurs when people are within 0.3 of the nest.
第五級 Lvl. 5	必須觸及蜂巢才有攻擊反應 Attack behavior is triggered only when the nest is physically touched.

臺灣七種虎頭蜂種類及攻擊性一覽表 Seven Species of Hornets in Taiwan and Their Aggressiveness

事實上，不同種，甚至同一種虎頭蜂的攻擊性和警戒範圍，跟季節、環境溫度、氣候條件、地理位置、風向、外界刺激、氣味、族群大小等等因素密切相關，因此變化很大，例如也有接近黑腹虎頭蜂巢 10 m 就叮人的記錄，分級數據只是大致的評估標準和基本的參考指標。此外蜂螫時會釋放警戒費洛蒙，引發大規模的蜂群攻擊行為，所以如果靠近虎頭蜂巢時過於躁動，肢體動作過大，蜂群就有可能提升警戒性，只要一旦有人被叮，那麼風險會大幅提升，上述的分級就不適用。 In fact, the aggressiveness and alert range of different species—or even the same species—of hornets can vary greatly depending on factors such as season, ambient temperature, weather conditions, geographic location, wind direction, external stimuli, scents, and colony size. For example, there have been reports of Black-bellied hornets stinging people who came within 10 meters of their nest. Therefore, threat level rankings are only rough assessment standards and basic reference indicators. In addition, when hornets sting, they release alarm pheromones that can trigger large-scale swarm attacks. If you are too agitated near a hornet nest or make exaggerated movements, the colony may become more alert. Once someone gets stung, the risk increases significantly, and the threat level rankings no longer apply.

預防蜂螫 Preventing Bee Stings

最好的方式就是遠離蜂巢。經過蜂巢附近應盡速通過避免逗留，無意間接近蜂巢要減少肢體的晃動，切記不可拍打、揮舞，以免觸怒牠們，並且盡速垂降下撤，保持距離。不得已要接近蜂巢時，使用含有敵避 (DEET) 成分的防蚊液，能有效減少部分蜂螫。若不慎被螫刺，要檢查身上是否殘留的螫針並盡速取下。冰敷能減緩蜂螫後帶來的不適，服用抗組織胺藥物 (Antihistamine) 可幫助緩解患處癢及腫脹。對蜂毒嚴重過敏者，遇緊急情況可以 腎上腺素注射筆 自救，出現呼吸急促則要立即送醫。 The best way is to stay away from beehives. When passing near a hive, move quickly and avoid lingering. If you accidentally get close, reduce body movement—do not swat or wave your arms, as this may provoke them. Immediately lower or rappel down and maintain distance. If you absolutely must approach, using mosquito repellent that contains DEET can effectively reduce some stings. If you are stung, check for any remaining stingers on your body and remove them promptly. Applying a cold compress can help ease the discomfort, and taking antihistamines can relieve itching and swelling at the affected area. For individuals with severe allergies to bee venom, an epinephrine auto-injector can be used for emergency self-treatment. If symptoms such as shortness of breath occur, seek medical attention immediately.

蜂類的兇猛程度跟體型大小沒有直接關連；棕長腳蜂 (Polistes (Gyrostoma) gigas) 是蜂類體型數一數二大的，但較為溫馴；黑絨虎頭蜂體型比棕長腳蜂小很多，但攻擊性卻非常強；中華大虎頭蜂是全世界體型最大的虎頭蜂，攻擊性也非常高。用狗來舉例，吉娃娃體型小但擊性高且非常神經質，拉不拉多、黃金獵犬體型較大，但攻擊性較低；藏獒體型龐大同時極具攻擊性。 The aggressiveness of wasps is not directly related to their body size. For example, the giant paper wasp (Polistes (Gyrostoma) gigas) is among the largest of wasps, yet it's relatively docile. In contrast, the black velvet wasp is much smaller but extremely aggressive. The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), the largest hornet species in the world, is also known for its high level of aggression. To draw a parallel with dogs: Chihuahuas are small in size but often very aggressive and nervous; Labradors and Golden Retrievers are larger but typically gentle; Tibetan Mastiffs are massive and can also be highly aggressive.

分辨長腳蜂與虎頭蜂 Distinguishing Paper Wasps and Hornets

最簡易的方式是觀察蜂巢的形態。虎頭蜂巢有外罩，從外觀無法直接看到內部的六角形巢房，巢脾和個體的數量會隨著蜂群發展逐漸增加，根據不同的虎頭蜂，蜂巢從最初的網球大小發展成籃球大小甚至更大，成熟的蜂群其個體數量從上百隻到上萬隻不等。長腳蜂為單一巢脾，六角形巢房外露，形似蓮蓬頭，蜂巢最大不會超過一個成人的手掌，成蜂數量很少超過 50 隻。 The simplest way to tell the difference is by observing the structure of their nests. Hornet nests have an outer covering, which conceals the inner hexagonal cells. As the colony grows, both the size of the nest and the number of individuals increase. Depending on the species, a hornet nest can grow from the size of a tennis ball to that of a basketball or even larger. A mature hornet colony may contain anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of individuals. In contrast, paper wasps (Polistes spp.) build open-comb nests with exposed hexagonal cells, resembling a showerhead. Their nests are composed of a single layer and typically do not exceed the size of an adult human hand. The number of adult wasps rarely exceeds 50 individuals.

*黃腳虎頭蜂巢初期 – 攝於黃金谷「珍珠項鍊」懸岩｜Early Stage Yellow-legged Hornet Nest – Photographed at the roof of Pearl Necklace in Golden Valley.*

一個月後發展成排球般大小的黃腳虎頭蜂巢 – 攝於黃金谷「珍珠項鍊」懸岩｜A month later, the yellow-legged hornet nest developed into volleyball-size – Photographed at the roof of Pearl Necklace in Golden Valley.

虎頭蜂與長腳蜂群的壽命都不會超過一年，蜂后於春季獨立建巢及育幼，待第一批工蜂羽化後投入族群繁衍的行列，假如沒有天敵、天災，只要食物充足，蜂群會逐漸擴大，秋天是蜂群最旺盛的季節，到了冬天蜂群就會自行瓦解，而瓦解後的蜂巢來年的蜂群不會重複使用。根據蜂群的發展結構，若虎頭蜂出現在熱門路線或人群經常活動的區域，危及生命財產安全時，可趁早春之際在蜂群尚未壯大之前摘除，此時蜂巢小、個體數量少，摘除的風險較低。 The lifespans of hornet and paper wasp colonies generally do not exceed one year. In spring, a solitary queen founds a new nest and raises the first batch of offspring. Once the first generation of worker wasps emerges, they join in expanding the colony. If there are no predators or natural disasters and food is abundant, the colony will continue to grow. Autumn marks the peak of colony strength. By winter, the colony naturally disbands, and the nest is not reused by future colonies. Based on this developmental pattern, if hornets appear along popular routes or in areas frequently visited by people—posing a threat to life and property—it is advisable to remove the nest in early spring while the colony is still small and the number of individuals is limited, thus reducing the risk involved in removal.

*褐長腳蜂巢初期 – 攝於龍洞後門｜Early stage of the giant paper wasps Nest – Photographed at Back Door, Long Dong.*

105 年在黃金谷「珍珠項鍊」懸岩的黃腳虎頭蜂巢，106 年便自行瓦解｜The yellow-legged hornet nest at the roof of Pearl Necklace in Golden Valley in 2016 had disintegrated by 2017.

虎頭蜂與長腳蜂都屬於狩獵型的蜂類，牠們能夠捕捉環境中的小昆蟲當做幼蟲的食物，成蜂則會訪花吸蜜，進而傳遞花粉，對平衡生態有極大的助益；自然界沒有益蟲與害蟲之分，所謂的益蟲與害蟲，是人類根據自身的需求來決定的。龍洞有很多蜂類與我們共享自然資源，不同蜂種警戒範圍不同，適當保持距離，就能避免人、蜂衝突。 Both hornets and paper wasp belong to predatory wasp species. They can capture small insects from their environment as food for their larvae. Adult wasps visit flowers to drink nectar, thereby helping to transfer pollen and greatly contributing to ecological balance. In nature, there are no strictly beneficial or harmful insects; the concepts of “beneficial” or “harmful” insects are human-made distinctions based on our own needs. At Long Dong, many species of wasps share natural resources with us. Different wasp species have varying alert zones, so maintaining an appropriate distance can help avoid conflicts between people and wasps.