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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps (Vespidae) » Hornets and Yellowjackets (Vespinae) » Dolichovespula » Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria)
Photo#166509
Dolichovespula arenaria? - Dolichovespula arenaria
Copyright © 2005 Charley Eiseman

Dolichovespula arenaria? - Dolichovespula arenaria
Colchester - Colchester Pond Natural Area, Chittenden County, Vermont, USA
August 1, 2005
Sorry about the image quality--this was a tiny part of a photo that showed the whole nest. I used the BugGuide hornet/yellowjacket key and came up with Dolichovespula arenaria, but wasn't totally satisfied with the match. Maybe they're variable? The nest was about 15" tall, suspended a foot or two above the ground.
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Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 23 January, 2008 - 4:03pm
Last updated 22 February, 2008 - 3:01pm

yep..
D. arenaria is correct. Nests low to the ground( not way up in a tall tree like D. maculata) are typical of this species.
… vespula vulgaris, 23 January, 2008 - 6:45pm login or register to post comments

 
I agree.
I agree with the identification, but in my experience in the Pacific Northwest, D. arenaria nests were often exposed under the eaves of buildings, inside abandoned barns, etc, while D. maculata nests were often much closer to the ground (in blackberry canes, small trees, bushes, etc). I never saw a single bald-faced hornet nest high up in anything.
… Eric R. Eaton, 28 January, 2008 - 4:40pm login or register to post comments

 
very interesting!
apoun looking in the guide at pics of bald faced hornet nests, it seems that where i live, nests are almost always high up(i have never seen one low to the ground). this must not be the case elsewhere...

besides the sise of the cells(they tend to be larger in maculata), i dont know of any ways that the nests are diff
… vespula vulgaris, 4 February, 2008 - 5:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Interesting.
Do you think there are any consistent differences between species in the construction of Dolichovespula nests, since nest location evidently can't be trusted?
… Charley Eiseman, 28 January, 2008 - 5:00pm login or register to post comments

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