Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
 
Photos from the gathering
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
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#197060
Dolichovespula arenaria ? - Dolichovespula arenaria
Copyright © 2008 Gary McDonald

Dolichovespula arenaria ? - Dolichovespula arenaria
Aromas, San Benito County, California, USA
July 2, 2008
Size: ~15mm
Seen on Heteromeles arbutifolia in our yard. (live oak/chaparral habitat). I thought I was photographing another Vespula, but after viewing the image and http://bugguide.net/node/view/35661, I think it might be Dolichovespula arenaria.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Gary McDonald on 3 July, 2008 - 2:12pm
Last updated 8 July, 2008 - 8:54am

correct
its a male... probably out so early due to the fact that colonies of these die off early. i did not know that they ranged so far west!

EDIT: now i have some doubt. some V. pensylvanica males can just like that although i am still leaning toward arenaria(partly because it is out so early). do you have a shot of it's face?
… vespula vulgaris, 3 July, 2008 - 2:24pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you vespula
Unfortunately, I got only one shot of the guy before he left.
… Gary McDonald, 8 July, 2008 - 8:53am login or register to post comments

 
Dolichovespula arenaria
I believe D. arenaria is correct. The black markings on tergum 1 and the overall body shape don't look like V. pensylvanica.
… Matthias Buck, 8 July, 2008 - 3:30am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you Dr. Buck
I'll move it to the proper page.
… Gary McDonald, 8 July, 2008 - 8:53am login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact