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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) » Ground Yellowjackets (Vespula) » Western Yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica)
Photo#1281357
Vespula - Vespula pensylvanica - female
Copyright © 2016 Al Popil

Vespula - Vespula pensylvanica - Female
Dinosaur Provincial Park, County of Newell / Special Area #2, Alberta, Canada
August 20, 2016
Size: >10mm
Hi. Not too concerned about what kind of wasp this is but if an ID is possible, much appreciated (one poor dorsal image available). I noticed every so often that a wasp would form a little white "spit ball (?)", spit it out and then eat it again. Just curious as to what is going on. A camper had left a cinnamon bun on a picnic table from where I shot the image.
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Contributed by Al Popil on 25 August, 2016 - 9:43am
Last updated 31 July, 2017 - 1:57am

Moved
Moved from Vespula.
… v belov, 31 July, 2017 - 1:57am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Vespula Vulgaris, 25 August, 2016 - 6:49pm login or register to post comments

Great shot
Regurgitation and re-consumption of food substances is almost certainly a digestive process. I have alsoread that water can be held in the same position at the nest entrance, while fanning their wings
to speed up evaporation, this cools the surrounding air. Similarly another theory is that exposing any food substances to the air may help to evaporate the water content and concentrate the sugars.
… Vespula Vulgaris, 25 August, 2016 - 6:46pm login or register to post comments

 
Vespula pensylvanica
The yellow eye loops are diagnostic for this species among North American Vespula spp.
… Casey Borowski Jr, 14 July, 2017 - 6:59pm login or register to post comments

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