9 replies to this topic

[Swirlysnowflake]

I was out on a walk again and I came across this single Vespula sp. From what I could see, the only other wasps in the area were an abundance of P. dominula. Is this a queen, worker, or drone? And what species (if you can even tell that with these terrible photos. The wasp would not stay still.)

It's about 3/4 of an inch

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Edited by Swirlysnowflake, May 27 2021 - 12:33 PM.

[ZTYguy]

looks like it could be queen but don't take my word

[PetsNotPests]

If you could get some clearer photos, it would help. I can't tell with these. 

[Swirlysnowflake]

This is the only one I could get right now. I’ll try moving it into a transparent container soon

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[Swirlysnowflake]

She’s about 20 mm. Apparently workers are only 12 - 15 but I don’t know how factual that is, considering that’s a generalization for all of Vespula

[PetsNotPests]

Those pics help a lot. I'm 99% sure she's a queen.  

[VoidElecent]

Yep, looks like a queen. At least on the east coast these are very common in Spring

[Swirlysnowflake]

Ah great! I believe she is Vespula pensylvanica?

[Chickalo]

I found one of these but the next day when I found out it was a queen and planned on catching it she was gone (apparently she was chilling on the window for a while now)

[Swirlysnowflake]

I released her, Vespula are apparently really hard to raise in captivity...