Social or paper-nest wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae & Vespinae)
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23 Apr 2025
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Discussion
KylieWaldon
wrote:
23 Apr 2025
They can also bounce off spider webs! Seen them do it a few times now, rather than get caught in it.
Vespula (Genus)
DiBickers
wrote:
23 Apr 2025
Totally fine @KylieWaldon, sometimes we only get seconds to snap a photo😊
Vespula (Genus)
KylieWaldon
wrote:
22 Apr 2025
Thanks Di. I thought there was only one. I will make sure I get side views as well in future. sorry. Kylie :)
Vespula (Genus)
DiBickers
wrote:
22 Apr 2025
Most likely Vespula germanica, but would need a clear side-view photo of the head & thorax as well. I’ll need to verify this one at Genus-level for you😊
Vespula (Genus)
DiBickers
wrote:
22 Apr 2025
European wasps are aggressive hunters of insects and spiders, which they feed to their larvae. The adults themselves eat pollen, nectar, other carbohydrates and secretions produced by their young. This wasp out-competes native species for food resources as well as virtually depleting an area of its insect and spider fauna. Vespula germanica also has a large negative impact on human receation activities. Nests should be reported.
"A typical European wasp nest is started in the spring by a single queen emerging from hibernation. She raises the first worker wasps herself, which then help her raise more workers, and so the nest grows through the summer. Come the autumn most workers die out while the newly born queens search for a warm, dark place to hibernate." (Dr Reeson, Adelaide University)
Other online resources:
https://museumvictoria.com.au/wasps/
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/invertebrates/invasive-invertebrates/wasps
"A typical European wasp nest is started in the spring by a single queen emerging from hibernation. She raises the first worker wasps herself, which then help her raise more workers, and so the nest grows through the summer. Come the autumn most workers die out while the newly born queens search for a warm, dark place to hibernate." (Dr Reeson, Adelaide University)
Other online resources:
https://museumvictoria.com.au/wasps/
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/invertebrates/invasive-invertebrates/wasps
Vespula (Genus)
Top contributors
- AlisonMilton 77
- RodDeb 53
- TimL 45
- Christine 42
- MichaelBedingfield 40
- Hejor1 35
- KylieWaldon 26
- HelenCross 22
- MatthewFrawley 15
- trevorpreston 15
Top moderators
- SimoneC 212
- MichaelMulvaney 163
- MichaelBedingfield 143
- KimPullen 113
- DiBickers 75
- Amata 49
- Curiosity 8
- Mike 4
- RogerF 3
- CharlesDove 3
