Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
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) » Arctic Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula albida)

Species Dolichovespula albida - Arctic Aerial Yellowjacket

Arctic Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula norwegica) queen - Dolichovespula albida - female Vespid wasp - Dolichovespula albida - male Vespid wasp - Dolichovespula albida - male A worker of Dolichovespula albida - Dolichovespula albida - female A queen of Dolichovespula albida Sladen - Dolichovespula albida - female Arctic yellow jacket - Dolichovespula albida - male Arctic yellow jacket - Dolichovespula albida - male Dolichovespula albida with nest - Dolichovespula albida
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Vespoidea
Family Vespidae (Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies)
Subfamily Vespinae (Hornets and Yellowjackets)
Genus Dolichovespula (Aerial Yellowjackets)
Species albida (Arctic Aerial Yellowjacket)
Other Common Names
Arctic Yellowjacket
Arctic Hornet
White Aerial Yellowjacket
White Yellowjacket
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
previously considered a synonym of D. norwegica (Fabricius), a Palaearctic species (Carpenter et al. 2011)(1)
Explanation of Names
Dolichovespula albida (Sladen, 1918)
Identification
   
Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)
Range
boreal transcontinental, AK-ME(1)
Remarks
The markings of D. albida are very akin to those of D. norvegicoides apart from being ivory instead of yellow.
See Also
Dolichovespula arctica
 
Queen (♀♀) Male (♂)

Dolichovespula maculata
   
Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)

Vespula consobrina
   
Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)

Vespula intermedia
   
Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)
Print References
Carpenter J.M., Dvorak L., Pickett K.M. (2011) Dolichovespula albida (Sladen), a valid species, not a synonym of D. norwegica (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Vespinae). Entomologia Americana 117: 113-116.
Internet References
Species page (as D. norwegica)(2)
Works Cited
1.The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera)
L.S. Kimsey and J.M. Carpenter. 2012. Journal of Hymenoptera Research Vol. 28: 37–65.
2.Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the Northeastern Nearctic Region
Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K. B. Cheung. 2008. Biological Survey of Canada [Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification].
Contributed by A.W. Thomas on 2 April, 2005 - 9:24am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, Matthias Buck, v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 25 April, 2023 - 2:14am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo