Dolichovespula norvegicoides

Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region
CJAI 05, February 19, 2008
doi: 10.3752/cjai.2008.05

Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K.B. Cheung

Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

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85. Dolichovespula norvegicoides (Sladen, 1918)
Figs B12.5, 12; C85.1–10.

Taxonomic note. Before 1984 the western D. alpicola Eck, 1984 was confused with D. norvegicoides.

Species recognition. The diagnostic characters that distinguish this species from D. arenaria are discussed under the latter.

Variation. Fore wing length 9.0–11.0 mm (workers), 12.0–13.0 mm (♀♀), 10.0–12.0 mm (♂♂). Black clypeal spot almost always extending to both dorsal and ventral margins of clypeus, rarely stopping short of either dorsal or ventral margin; in male clypeal spot rarely free dorsally and ventrally. Black medial subantennal mark rarely with deep dorsal emarginations in male or worker. Yellow postocular band broadly interrupted near middle, in male rarely entire and only narrowed medially. Flagellum yellow to orange beneath in females, dark except spots on basal 1–4 flagellomeres in male. Pronotal carina exceptionally marked with yellow stripe (1 ♂, ON, Bruce Co., Tobermory, DEBU). Metanotum usually lacking pair of yellow spots. Metasomal terga never with free black discal spots.

Distribution. Canada: all provinces and territories except NU. Northern and western U.S.: AK, south to SC, TN, KY, WV, PA, MI, WI, MN, ND, WY, ID and CA (Carpenter and Kojima 1997).

Biology. The biology of this mostly northern species is poorly known. All recorded nests were aerial and located in low shrubs (Akre et al. 1981).

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