Queen wasp or German wasp?

[desertgecko]

This wasp found it's way into the house this evening and was wondering what it is. My mum says it's the 3rd one like it she has seen in about a week. I'm pretty sure it's not a regular wasp as not only is it too early for them, these are also bigger at about 1 inch in length. It didn't buzz like a normal wasp either, but much more softly like a bee. After a google search I thought it was a Queen wasp which makes sense at this time of year. But then I found some pics of the German wasp and now I'm not sure which it is. Can anyone help?

[Jason Green]

I THINK it's the German wasp, Vespula germanica. Compare the face markings above the mandibles and black marks down the abdomen:

Common Wasp- Common Wasp
German Wasp- German Wasp

Hope this helps!

Take care,

Jason

[desertgecko]

Thanks for the reply It was because of the face markings that I thought a German wasp as it doesn't have the 'anchor' markings of a Common wasp. But I can't find if this is the same for a Queen. Do they have the same face markings?

[Jason Green]

I'm not sure. Maybe?

Common Queen head: http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...7/22565778.jpg

Common Queen Upper Elevation: http://www.15acresinkent.com/Quickst...EEN-1_copy.jpg

As you'll see, the Queen here seems hairy whilst your's doesn't. I'd say German.

[eucera]

It's a queen Vespula germanica. The facial markings may be even more reduced in workers. The yellow shoulder stripe is much broader in the middle in V. germanica; in V. vulgaris this mark is a simple parallel sided stripe

[desertgecko]

Thank you both for your help