Dolichovespula
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18 species |
Dolichovespula is a small genus of social wasps distributed widley throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The yellow and black members of the genus are known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow-jackets) in North America along with members of their sister genus Vespula. Others like the Bald-faced hornet are black and white.
A set of morphological differences distinguishes them from Vespula. The most noticeable is the long face (dolikhos = long Gr.). Viewed from the front Dolichovespula faces are long, Vespula faces are short and round. The oculo-malar space is the distance between the eye and the mandible. In Dolichovespula the space is wide, in Vespula narrow.
Dolichovespula nests are usually aerial while Vespula often nest underground.
[edit] Notable species
- Bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata
- Median wasp, Dolichovespula media
- Tree wasp, Dolichovespula sylvestris
- Aerial yellowjacket Dolichovespula arenaria
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