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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Ants, Stinging Wasps, and Hornets (Vespoidea) » Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps (Vespidae) » Hornets and Yellowjackets (Vespinae) » Vespula
Photo#182267
Wasp - Vespula
Copyright © 2008 S Kassam

Wasp - Vespula
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
May 5, 2008
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Contributed by S Kassam on 12 May, 2008 - 9:03pm
Last updated 28 May, 2008 - 7:09pm

I say
Vespula vulgaris based on the marking on the face. The lack of an "occular malar space" excluds anything in the dolichovespula genus. im not positive of the ID, but maybe a real expert could tell for sure
… Vespula vulgaris, 13 May, 2008 - 5:55pm login or register to post comments

 
I agree
This female has to be V. vulgaris, as there is no other possibility left. But a positive ID is difficult from this angle anyway.
… Richard Vernier, 13 May, 2008 - 7:40pm login or register to post comments

 
i was
thinking it might be the forrest yellowjacket, V. acadica, but i have never seen that species before and thats why i was unsure
… Vespula vulgaris, 14 May, 2008 - 5:59am login or register to post comments

 
V. acadica...
"should" always have a yellow stripe beneath the scapi of antnnae. I too thought of that species before "zooming" for a close-up and seeing the seemingly all-black antennae.
But after all, a very narrow stripe could remain unnoticed from this angle. Moreover, a V. vulgaris queen should have a broader black anchor-shaped stripe on her clypeus. Finally, reddish forelegs rather suggest a Forest Yellowjacket too.
Therefore, I'm now unsure just like you were (quite rigthly), and I think this is safer to let this specimen as an unidentified Vespula sp.
… Richard Vernier, 14 May, 2008 - 7:51pm login or register to post comments

 
broad
to make the ID just a little less broad, this is a Vespula sp. queen =)
… Vespula vulgaris, 15 May, 2008 - 10:10am login or register to post comments

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