Vespula dilemma!

[JRsbugs]

Hi all, and please bear with me once again.

I'm having a lot of trouble trying to sort out my Vespula sp. wasps. I found a Canadian key which includes V. vulgaris and V. germanica which doesn't seem to fit some I have.

I took pics of one yesterday which is more unusual than any so far. The key (as far as I can understand!) states that V. germanica doesn't have the spots adjoining the base of the 'crown' shape between the eyes but it can have a small spot in the middle. I have had a few different male wasps with these, and some could fit V. vugaris, others don't (I think!)

Some have these spots joined to form a complete band below the crown, this particular wasp has that. The other facial feature it has is the yellow ocular sinus pattern nearly reaches the crown, and according to the key it should be broadly black between for V. vulgaris.

Key to eastern Nearctic Vespula species

Section 13:

Eye margined with black dorsally, never with yellow spot near eye margin (Fig. 13.22). Black subantennal mark lacking deep dorsal emarginations or pair of yellow spots (rarely with single median spot, Fig. 13.22). Tergum 7 with sparse short, semi-erect pubescence below apical margin (Fig. 13.20). Aedeagus with small expansion just basal to apical inflated part (Fig. 13.24) V. germanica

The band behind the eye (postocular band) in V. vugaris should be either interrupted or distinctly narrowed in the middle or enclosing a spot. This wasp appears to have none of those.

Section 9:

Black band between corona and ocular sinus broad (at least 2x mid ocellar diameter), its outer margin convex to almost straight (Fig. 13.13). Yellow postocular band either interrupted (Fig. 13.15), distinctly narrowed near middle or enclosing black spot. Propodeum entirely black* V. vulgaris

This wasp doesn't look to have this step or overhang on tergum 7, but I have seen it on more obvious V. vulgaris.

Bottom of section 4:

Female: occipital carina continuous to base of mandible (Fig. 13.2); black band between corona and ocular sinus usually narrow dorsally (Figs 13.12, 13.14; width at most one mid ocellar diameter) or interrupted, if broad (V. vulgaris, Fig. 13.13) then black mark of tergum 1 not (or barely) enclosing yellow spots (Figs 13.40–43, 13 62). Male: tergum 7 with apical depression behind median slope, step or overhang (Figs 13.27–29); flagellum very long, flagellomere II 1.9–2.1x as long as broad V. vulgaris-group,
in part 7

There is a page of each species showing queens, workers and males, got by clicking on the blue species name.

Vespula vulgaris

Vespula germanica

There is a cautionary note under section 9 for variations of V. vulgaris in some regions for which the key covers, but it states also that:

All specimens examined by us key properly through this couplet

Janet

Yesterday's headache...

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Janet,

I don't think our yellowjackets need keying out, really - not in my opinion anyway. They seem fairly distinct in their own ways and keying out from photos will often require a feature examining that just doesn't show! Keys are ideal with a dead specimen and a microscope. A Canadian key would presumably take into account their range of YJs and maybe giving preference to certain species we don't have, presumably this is where the confusion is coming from.

I say this is the the Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris. What time of year was it taken?

Oh, a nice shot it is too

Take care,

Jason

[JRsbugs]

Afternoon Jason!

I don't think our yellowjackets need keying out, really - not in my opinion anyway.

I think the males do need keying out, there are certain features which can separate the two which are supposed to be late, that is V. vulgaris and V. germanica.

They seem fairly distinct in their own ways and keying out from photos will often require a feature examining that just doesn't show!

There are features which are stated on the key for males, I took it that 'female' or 'male' was for the sex stated, and if not stated then the key would be for either sex.

Keys are ideal with a dead specimen and a microscope.

OR several angles showing vital parts taken with a good macro lens!

A Canadian key would presumably take into account their range of YJs and maybe giving preference to certain species we don't have, presumably this is where the confusion is coming from.

I don't think a key takes into account anything other than the vital features of a species, and these two are native to here and introduced to Canada. Comparisons in my view only show the differences as stated, but never the less show those differences. Any regional differences within Canada have been mentioned, but they did state that the keys worked with all specimens examined by them.

All specimens examined by us key properly through this couplet

As 'they' are from the Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, I would think they know what they are doing.

I say this is the the Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris. What time of year was it taken?

Again, read my first post where I said 'taken yesterday' which would be 12th November. It could be V. vugaris, but it doesn't key out. If someone here has a key which could show that we do have these variations that would be great!

Variations as stated above!