Wasp1and2 - Dolichovespula norvegicoides

Milkweed trap

No, the wasp got stuck because milkweed flowers have a trapping mechanism that attaches a pair of pollinaria to whatever gets caught in the mechanism. In the field you can often see aculeate wasps that carry the pollinaria, some individuals even carry many. Usually the insect gets free much more easily than this poor yellowjacket. The purpose of the mechanism is not to trap the insect for good but to attach the pollinaria to it so it can carry them to the next flower. I agree with the wasp ID.

… Matthias Buck, 6 August, 2008 - 8:35am

Wow

thats really cool i never knew that! :0

… Vespula vulgaris, 6 August, 2008 - 11:40am

Polinaria

The pollinaria can be seen on this image:

… Matthias Buck, 29 August, 2008 - 4:56pm

there might have been a spider web..

I'm not really sure.

the wasp looks like a male D. norvegicoides (northern aerial yellowjacket). males can't sting, so you had nothing to worry about. you could have walked up to the wasp, and grabbed it with your hand to pull it free! lol!

… Vespula vulgaris, 6 August, 2008 - 7:54am

Brab a wasp

RE: Grab a wasp – NO WAY, especially with my luck! When I was a young child, I was out on my uncle’s farm by his barn. I got stung and made it half way to the house before falling to the ground unconscious. I was rushed to the local doctor about 2 miles away and woke up the next day. Most years since then, I carry with me a bee sting kit. My current doctor suggested that if stung based on testing he has done I would have about 1 to 2 minutes before I would become unconscious. I treat all bees, wasps and hornets with great respect even though I am festinated by them and often take close up pictures. My wife thinks I am nuts because I have a bumble bee nest under the shed in the back yard and will not destroy either the nest or the BB’s as they go about their busy lives. Thanks to all for the information shared.

… semesterke, 6 August, 2008 - 12:26pm