Wasp ID - Holme Fen , Cambridgeshire, UK (1 Viewer)

[DoghouseRiley]

Hi All
A slow day and found a wasp that was also on the go slow, not it's usual busy self. I put this down to the temperature......

After examining the pictures..... has this wasp got a "long-face"? Is this a Dolichovespula saxonica (Saxon Wasp)?
I understand that they are spreading northwards and markings are very variable.

The face seems long, there is no anchor marking, simply a single dot.

Can someone ID this for me please?

Thanks, Gareth

 

[Harrybongo]

Hi. It looks like a Vespula germanica. Markings on the abdominal region look OK, 1st/2nd tergum markings (black), on a Saxonica, have a more flat edge, the markings on pic 3, have a more pointed shape. The side thoratic markings look OK for germanica too......a nice triangular marking on the episternum, and a long yellow area on the side of the head, which, is lacking on the Saxonica. The black spot on the clypeus, looks OK too.

 

[Harrybongo]

Hi, again. The only other wasp, I can think of, that looks similar to this one is, Vespula vulgaris?

 

[pdwinter]

With the caveat that I know very little about wasps... I use the key from the BWARS site https://bwars.com/sites/default/files/diary_downloads/Vespine wasps key_v5.pdf
From couplet 2 on page 3 and looking at your image BB4.jpg the malar space seems to me to be much more like 1/4 the width of the mandible than 1/2 the width which takes me to Vespula and couplet 10. I'm pretty sure this is a male insect and that takes me to couplet 14 (and game over!)

 

[DoghouseRiley]

With the caveat that I know very little about wasps... I use the key from the BWARS site https://bwars.com/sites/default/files/diary_downloads/Vespine wasps key_v5.pdf
From couplet 2 on page 3 and looking at your image BB4.jpg the malar space seems to me to be much more like 1/4 the width of the mandible than 1/2 the width which takes me to Vespula and couplet 10. I'm pretty sure this is a male insect and that takes me to couplet 14 (and game over!)

I am not great with keys but I'll take a look. Thanks for your help Paul.

 

[DoghouseRiley]

Hi, again. The only other wasp, I can think of, that looks similar to this one is, Vespula vulgaris?

Thanks Harry

 

[Harrybongo]

Thanks Harry

👍

 

[DoghouseRiley]

With the caveat that I know very little about wasps... I use the key from the BWARS site https://bwars.com/sites/default/files/diary_downloads/Vespine wasps key_v5.pdf
From couplet 2 on page 3 and looking at your image BB4.jpg the malar space seems to me to be much more like 1/4 the width of the mandible than 1/2 the width which takes me to Vespula and couplet 10. I'm pretty sure this is a male insect and that takes me to couplet 14 (and game over!)

Hi Paul

Ok. I have got to Vespula now. From the face alone it appears to be V. germanica, no?

Yours, Gareth

 

[pdwinter]

Hi Paul

Ok. I have got to Vespula now. From the face alone it appears to be V. germanica, no?

Yours, Gareth

From the key