White-faced hornet
Summary
The white-faced hornet belongs to the genus Dolichovespula and is mainly found in the 48 contiguous states of the USA as well as Alaska, and throughout Canada. The white-faced hornet is actually a yellowjacket and not a true ‘hornet’. Dolichovespula species are amongst the most common culprits of severe immediate allergic reactions, along with honeybees, paper wasps, hornets, stinging ants and bumblebees.
Epidemiology
Worldwide distribution
The white-faced hornet is the largest and most widespread of the North American Vespidae and are amongst the most common culprits of severe immediate allergic reactions, along with honeybees, paper wasps, hornets, stinging ants and bumblebees.
Clinical Relevance
Dolichovespula maculata belongs to the order Hymenoptera, one of the most frequent triggers for severe IgE-mediated anaphylaxis in adults. Its sting is not only very painful, but may also induce severe allergic responses in humans. Systemic reactions may be restricted to generalized symptoms of the skin, but can also affect the respiratory and vascular system and lead to multi-organ failure.
Cross-Reactivity
Antigen 5 allergens of different Vespinae members (including Dolichovespula, Vespula and Vespa species) display pronounced cross-reactivity.
References
- PennState. Baldfaced Hornet 2021 [cited 2021 3.12.21]. Available from: https://extension.psu.edu/baldfaced-hornet.
- Kimsey LS, Carpenter JM. The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 2012;28:37-65.
- ITIS. Dolichovespula maculata (Linnaeus) 2021 [cited 2021 30.11.21]. Available from: https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=154260#null.
- Schmidt JO, Blum MS. Toxicity of Dolichovespula maculata venom. Toxicon. 1979;17(6):645-8.
- Korošec P, Jakob T, Harb H, Heddle R, Karabus S, de Lima Zollner R, et al. Worldwide perspectives on venom allergy. The World Allergy Organization journal. 2019;12(10):100067-.
- Blank S, Bazon ML, Grosch J, Schmidt-Weber CB, Brochetto-Braga MR, Bilò MB, et al. Antigen 5 Allergens of Hymenoptera Venoms and Their Role in Diagnosis and Therapy of Venom Allergy. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020;20(10):58.
- Allergome. Dolichovespula maculata 2021 [cited 2021 30.11.21]. Available from: https://www.allergome.org/script/search_step2.php.
- Soldatova L, Kochoumian L, King TP. Sequence similarity of a hornet (D. maculata) venom allergen phospholipase A1 with mammalian lipases. FEBS Lett. 1993;320(2):145-9.
- Bazon ML, Silveira LH, Simioni PU, Brochetto-Braga MR. Current Advances in Immunological Studies on the Vespidae Venom Antigen 5: Therapeutic and Prophylaxis to Hypersensitivity Responses. Toxins. 2018;10(8).