Vespula
| Vespula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| German wasp (Vespula germanica) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Vespinae |
| Genus: | Vespula |
| Species | |
|
23 species | |
Vespula is a small genus of social wasps, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Along with members of their sister genus Dolichovespula, they are collectively known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow-jackets) in North America. The Vespula genus has a higher male paternity compared to Dolichovespula norwegica wasps: dolichovespula is a sister genus of Vespula.[1]Vespula species have a shorter oculomalar space (shown in the figure below right) and a more pronounced tendency to nest underground than Dolichovespula.
Notable species
- Two of the common European species, the German wasp (Vespula germanica) and the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), have been established in North America, southern Africa, New Zealand, and eastern Australia.
- The eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) and western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica) are native to North America.
Illustration showing oculomalar space
List of Species
- Vespula acadica (Sladen, 1918) – Forest Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula arisana (Sonan, 1929)
- Vespula alascensis Packard, 1870[3]
- Vespula atropilosa (Sladen, 1918) – Prairie Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula austriaca (Panzer, 1799) – Red Cuckoo Wasp
- Vespula consobrina (Saussure, 1854) – Blackjacket[2]
- Vespula flaviceps (Smith, 1870)
- Vespula flavopilosa Jakobson, 1978 – Downy Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula germanica (Fabricius, 1793) – German Wasp, German Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula inexspectata Eck, 1991
- Vespula infernalis (de Saussure, 1854) – Cuckoo Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula ingrica Birula, 1931
- Vespula intermedia (du Buysson, 1904–05) – Northern Red-banded Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula kingdonwardi Archer, 1981
- Vespula koreensis (Rad., 1887)
- Vespula maculifrons (Buysson, 1905) – Eastern Yellowjacket
- Vespula nursei Archer, 1981
- Vespula orbata (Buysson 1902)
- Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure, 1857) – Western Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula rufa (Linnaeus, 1758) – Red Wasp
- Vespula rufosignata Eck, 1998
- Vespula shidai Ish., Yam., Wagn., 1980
- Vespula squamosa (Drury, 1770) – Southern Yellowjacket
- Vespula structor (Smith, 1870)
- Vespula sulphurea (Saussure, 1854) – California Yellowjacket[2]
- Vespula vidua (de Saussure, 1854)[2]
- Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) – Common Wasp
See also
- Paravespula, a subgenus of Vespula
References
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Wikispecies has information related to: Vespula |