9 replies to this topic

[Here for the honeypots]

Found this guy sleeping in my wood pile alone. Since he was alone I sort of expect it to be a queen. He may appear dead in these pictures but he's quite alive. I put him in the freezer a bit so that I could take pictures without getting stung. Tends to be much calmer and sleepier. Wasp people of formiculture, any help?? Edit: I suppose I shouldn't be referring to it as "he" if I'm unsure haha. My bad

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Edited by Here for the honeypots, November 22 2015 - 4:44 PM.

[LC3]

Freezer? not fridge? It's never a good idea to put insects in the freezer.. I've done it before.

Hint: They die. Usually 

 

If she is a queen maybe you can start a colony with her? I've heard it being done before.

Edited by LC3, November 22 2015 - 6:14 PM.

[Here for the honeypots]

Only for about 5 minutes haha. I need some confirmation from someone though

[LC3]

i'm guessing it's just a common yellow jacket. You should look at the stripe pattern.

 

Seems like Vespula maculifrons and Vespula pensylvanica are present in Nevada, but with slight stripe variations.

Edited by LC3, November 22 2015 - 6:49 PM.

[Here for the honeypots]

Ok thanks

[dermy]

I'm guessing either Vespula pensylvanica mainly because of the "Yellow eye ring" and the yellow stripe on the thorax:

 

see this picture for what I'm saying:

http://pubs.extensio...g?itok=iijM2Plh

 

BTW For Picture purposes freezer is okay but no more then a few minutes, for hibernating it needs some kind of "material" to protect it from the cold of a fridge, i wouldn't use dirt just because of pests and stuff.

 

All I gotta say is Vespula are really hard to get started, I don't know anyone who's started a Sucessful Vespula pensylvanica "nest" I do know someone who's done a small nest of Vespula maculifrons but it died shortly after workers, due to too unknown reasons.

[Here for the honeypots]

Hmm, okay thanks. So it was a queen? Or just a worker?

[dermy]

Hmm, okay thanks. So it was a queen? Or just a worker?

Sorry yes at this time of the year all wasps [unless you live somewhere tropical] will be queens, and the markings also suggest Queen.

[Here for the honeypots]

Ah okay thank you. I released it. Next one won't be so lucky

[Canadian anter]

Raising wasps is kinda like big fire ants......that can fly.During the founding stage I've heard they  need A LOT of protein.