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Photo#68114
Yellowjacket - Vespula sp. - Dolichovespula arenaria - male

Yellowjacket - Vespula sp. - Dolichovespula arenaria - Male
Central Park, New York City, New York, USA
July 30, 2006
Last Yellowjacket submission I had wrong genus. Maybe this time too.

Images of this individual: tag all
Yellowjacket - Vespula sp. - Dolichovespula arenaria - male Yellowjacket - Vespula sp. - Dolichovespula arenaria - male Yellowjacket - Vespula sp. - Dolichovespula arenaria - male

Strange Dangling Tarsal Structures?
The tarsi of this wasp appear to have relatively long, branched, thread-like structures with tiny black, bead-like internodes. (They're best seen in the last of the set of three images.)

I've never seen anything like this! Anyone have insights on these bizarre structures?

Same species, same gender (Dolichovespula arenaria, male)
This time, an important feature is quite visible, i.e the pronotal carina. This latter is "materialized" by the faint vertical yellow stripe behind the head.
Nice shots, showing that yellowjacket males too can be pollinators of milkweed flowers.