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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies (Vespidae) » Hornets and Yellowjackets (Vespinae) » Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula) » Bald-faced Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula maculata)
Photo#126681
Chunky wasp or bee - Dolichovespula maculata
Copyright © 2007 Carol Davis

Chunky wasp or bee - Dolichovespula maculata
Pineview Reservoir, Morgan County, Utah, USA
June 17, 2007
Size: 1 inch
This was a large CHUNKY wasp. It was so heavy-looking and wide it flew like a cargo plane. Could it be a parasitic wasp?
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Contributed by Carol Davis on 12 July, 2007 - 9:52pm
Last updated 14 July, 2007 - 2:52pm

Wasp
I'd say Dolichovespula maculata (Bald-faced Hornet), although I'm not sure if the three look-alike species are found in Utah. From the individuals I've seen the white markings on the abdomen look a lot like D. maculata, but I'm no expert on Vespids.
… Nick Fensler, 12 July, 2007 - 10:10pm login or register to post comments

 
You're quite right
This is inded a D. maculata worker. Other similarly-looking species have jet-black, not chocolate brown, compound eyes, and ocular sinuses are not wholly white like here. And 2nd abominal segment is wholly black only in D. maculata too.
… Richard Vernier, 13 July, 2007 - 9:38am login or register to post comments

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