Social Wasps - Vespula

The social wasps include the yellow and black species which are the most familiar of the British species. Workers and queens pack a powerful sting, but will generally leave people well alone unless provoked. As voracious predators of many pests such as aphids, any gardener should welcome the sight of a foraging worker searching through the foliage. Prey are stung and rapidly subdued, with cumbersome items such as butterflies having the wings removed before delivery back to the nest.

There are 8 species in the UK (6 common), distinguished in particular by the pattern of banding on the abdomen and the facial markings.

Common Wasp - Vespula vulgaris - Extremely common species, distinctive anchor shape on face.

German Wasp - Vespula germanica - Common species, less black on abdomen than Common wasp. 3 dots on face.

Median Wasp - Dolichovespula media - Recent colonist in south, rapidly spreading north. Distinctive 'swoosh' markings on thorax.

Red Wasp - Vespula rufa - Often red on abdomen, only two yellow spots on rear of thorax

Wood Wasp - Dolichovespula sylvestris - Common species, single black dot on face

Saxon Wasp - Dolichovespula saxonica - Large and uncommon species

Norwegian Wasp - Dolichovespula norwegica