Taxonomy
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae Laicharting, 1781
Subfamily: Vespinae Laicharting, 1781
Genus: Vespula Thomson, 1869
Species: germanica Fabricius, 1793
Common names: German wasp, German yellowjacket
Background
Vespula germanica is one of two Vespula species that can be found in the Southern Hemisphere. In New Zealand and the eastern United States this species has become a significant pest (Matsuura and Yamane 1984)(Matsuura and Yamane 1984):
Matsuura M amp; S Yamane. 1984. Biology of the Vespine Wasps. Springer-Verlag: New York.. Vespula germanica is considered part of the Vl. vulgaris species group, along with Vl. flavopilosa, Vl. pensylvanica, Vl. maculifrons, and Vl. vulgaris. This group is characterized by having an occipital carina well developed throughout its length and extending to the basebase:
the foundation of a structure
of the mandibles, and the first gastral tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
not narrowed anteriorly or depressed. Hairs are usually pale gray or yellow. Additionally, members of this group typically have larger colonies, larger nests, and longer colony duration when compared to the Vl. rufa species group (Akre et al. 1981)(Akre et al. 1981):
Akre RD, A Greene, JF MacDonald, PJ Landholt amp; HG. Davis. 1981. Yellowjackets of North America, North of Mexico. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Handbook #552..
Distribution
This species originated in Eurasia and North Africa but can now be found on every continent except Antarctica. Populations have successfully established in North America, South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.
Diagnostic characteristics
There exists a highly melanic form of Vespula germanica, but it is uncommon.
To identify the genus:
- vertex vertex:
the area between the ocelli and the back of the head
not or only slightly extending above compound eyes
- distance between laterallateral:
the side
ocellus and occipital carina about the same as distance between laterallateral:
the side
ocelli
- oculo-malar space narrow, compound eyes touching or nearly touching basebase:
the foundation of a structure
of mandibles
- pronotum pronotum:
a collar-like segment on the thorax and directly behind the head; extends down the sides of the throax toward the first pair of legs
without transverse anterodorsalanterodorsal:
top of a body part closest to the head
carina (Kimsey and Carpenter 2012)(Kimsey and Carpenter 2012):
Kimsey LS amp; JM Carpenter. 2012. The Vespinae of North America. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 28: 37ndash;65. Doi.org/10.3897/jhr.28.3514.
To identify the species:
- diamond-shaped black mark on first tergum
- usually with 2 free or nearly free black spots on second tergum
- 3 black dots on clypeusclypeus:
sutures
(Akre et al. 1981)(Akre et al. 1981):
Akre RD, A Greene, JF MacDonald, PJ Landholt amp; HG. Davis. 1981. Yellowjackets of North America, North of Mexico. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Handbook #552.
Biology/Life cycle
A study by Landolt (1998) determined that Vl. germanica is highly attracted to a combination of acetic acid and isobutanol, but it's weakly attracted to either one on its own. Workers also responded to food materials such as molasses, jellies, and meats.
Usually, colonies of Vespula spp. are annual, but some colonies of Vl. germanica continue through the winter and into the next season (Kasper et al. 2008)(Kasper et al. 2008):
Kasper ML, AF Reeson, amp; AD Austin. 2008. Colony characteristics of Vespula germanica (F.) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in a Mediterranean climate (southern Australia). Australian Journal of Entomology 47 (4): 265ndash;274.. Nests of Vl. germanica can be very large, particularly in New Zealand where nests with 30 combs or more have been found. Group hibernation is common in this species. Groups of 38, 68, and 400 overwintering queens have been recorded (Matsuura and Yamane 1984)(Matsuura and Yamane 1984):
Matsuura M amp; S Yamane. 1984. Biology of the Vespine Wasps. Springer-Verlag: New York..
May be confused with
Vespula alascensis
- Vl. alascensis gena gena:
the cheek or side of the head
with yellow bandband:
usually referring to bands of hair or bands of color that traverse across an abdominal segment
broadly interrupted by black spot in side view (Kimsey and Carpenter 2012)(Kimsey and Carpenter 2012):
Kimsey LS amp; JM Carpenter. 2012. The Vespinae of North America. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 28: 37ndash;65. Doi.org/10.3897/jhr.28.3514.
Vespula pensylvanica
- Vl. germanica eye margined with black dorsally, never with yellow spot near eye margin
- Vl. germanica tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
7 with sparse, short, semi-erect pubescencepubescence:
short, fine hair
below apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
margin, Vl. pensylvanica tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
7 with dense, relatively long, semi-erect pubescencepubescence:
short, fine hair
below apicalapical:
near or at the apex or end of any structure
margin (Buck et al. 2008)(Buck et al. 2008):
Buck M, SA Marshall, amp; DKB Cheung. 2008. Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 5: 1ndash;492.
Vespula atropilosa
- Vl. atropilosa occipital carina incomplete (Higuera 2011)(Higuera 2011):
Higuera M. 2011. Species Details: Vespula atropilosa . University of Alberta Museums. Entomological Museum. https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-38259. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
Vespula acadica
- Vl. acadica queens and workers occipital carina absent ventrally
- Vl. acadica males dorsaldorsal:
the top surface of a structure
surface of tergumtergum:
the segments on the top side of the abdomen, often abbreviated when referring to a speciifc segment, such as T1, T2, etc.
7 straight in profile, not depressed apically (Buck et al. 2008)(Buck et al. 2008):
Buck M, SA Marshall, amp; DKB Cheung. 2008. Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 5: 1ndash;492.
Vespula vulgaris
- Vl. germanica has three black dots on clypeusclypeus:
sutures
, the normally unbroken black mark on Vl. vulgaris male clypeusclypeus:
sutures
can sometimes appear broken making it look like separate dots (Buck et al. 2008)(Buck et al. 2008):
Buck M, SA Marshall, amp; DKB Cheung. 2008. Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 5: 1ndash;492.
Known introductions
Vespula germanica has been introduced into New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and the United States (Akre and Davis 1978)(Akre and Davis 1978):
Akre RD amp; HG Davis. 1978. Biology and pest status of venomous wasps. Annual Review of Entomology 23 (1): 215ndash;238..
