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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) » Dolichovespula » Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria)
Photo#315149
Common Aerial Yellowjacket - Dolichovespula arenaria
Copyright © 2009 Rich Kelly

Common Aerial Yellowjacket - Dolichovespula arenaria
Planting Fields Arboretum, Nassau County, New York, USA
August 3, 2009
Size: 15 mm +/-
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Contributed by Rich Kelly on 4 August, 2009 - 12:58pm
Last updated 4 August, 2009 - 4:41pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Rich Kelly, 4 August, 2009 - 4:40pm login or register to post comments

to me looks like a yellowjacket, Vespula
Vespula maculifrons is in your area, but the banding on the abdomen nearest the thorax looks different than the pics I'm seeing in the guide. I'm not sure what others live there.
… Andrew Williams, 4 August, 2009 - 1:10pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks. I'll just go with th
Thanks. I'll just go with the genus. I'll wait a little, then move it. I must admit to finding these things very confusing.
… Rich Kelly, 4 August, 2009 - 1:15pm login or register to post comments

 
I disagree.
This looks much more like a relatively melanic aerial yellowjacket, Dolichovespula arenaria. There are usually, but not always, some spots unconnected to the black bands.
… Eric R. Eaton, 4 August, 2009 - 4:30pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks. This was a grab shot
Thanks. This was a grab shot right next to the car before I quit for the day. Considering that I saw thousands of bees and wasps, I managed to shoot an abnormal one.
… Rich Kelly, 4 August, 2009 - 4:39pm login or register to post comments

 
i shoulda stopped at yellowjacket :)
Learn somethin' new everyday. I didn't know there were yellowjackets other than Vespula.
… Andrew Williams, 4 August, 2009 - 4:34pm login or register to post comments

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