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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 » Western Yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica)
Photo#24266
Vespula what? - Vespula pensylvanica - female
Copyright © 2005 John Racette

Vespula what? - Vespula pensylvanica - Female
Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA
April 21, 2005
Size: .75" - 1" or so.
Took the kids to the Rio Grande Zoo. They marvelled at the larger fauna; I found this worker wasp chewing wood from a post. First impression was a Sandhills hornet, but the pattern on the abdomen just doesn't seem right. Now I am informed it is a she, and she is a queen. I like that.
Contributed by John Racette on 15 July, 2005 - 5:17pm
Last updated 16 July, 2005 - 2:45pm

Western yellowjacket queen.
This is actually a queen of the western yellowjacket,Vespula pensylvanica. Workers are much smaller and do not have isolated spots on the abdomen.
… Eric R. Eaton, 15 July, 2005 - 6:52pm

 
Queen for a Day.
Excellent! Thanks for the heads up.
… John Racette, 15 July, 2005 - 7:08pm

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