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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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91. Vespula flavopilosa Jacobson, 1978
Figs B13.18, 19, 27, 31, 52–55, 63, 74; C91.1–14.

Vespula flavopilosa
Vespula flavopilosa
Vespula flavopilosa
Vespula flavopilosa
Vespula flavopilosa

Species recognition. This species was described less than three decades ago and had previously been confused with V. vulgaris and V. maculifrons. Queens are relatively easy to distinguish from other species in the V. vulgaris-group by the apical fascia of tergum 1 not extending to the summit of the tergum (shared with V. vulgaris) in combination with a narrow black band (width at most 1.5x mid ocellar diameter) between the corona and the ocular sinus (at least 2x mid ocellar diameter in V. vulgaris). Xanthic workers (with basally narrowed black medial mark of tergum 1) similar to V. germanica but show better developed yellow markings on the pronotal lobes, scutum and mesopleuron (see key).

Variation. Fore wing length 8.0–11.0 mm (workers), 12.5–14.5 mm (♀♀), ca. 11.0–12.5 mm (♂♂, n = 5). Black clypeal mark of queen extending to dorsal and sometimes ventral margin of clypeus; in worker clypeal mark usually more or less parallel-sided and extending to dorsal margin with isolated dot(s) near middle, sometimes the markings very reduced, with small discal spots only or disc entirely yellow and clypeal mark reduced to small basal remnant; male clypeus with yellow disc, sometimes with small black spot(s). Black band between corona and ocular sinus sometimes interrupted in worker. Black subantennal mark usually with enclosed yellow spots (sometimes confluent with corona), missing in about 10% of females; subantennal mark of male very reduced, often reduced to isolated black spot at interantennal prominence. Scape black, in male with yellow anterior mark (always?). Xanthic workers often with very broad pronotal stripes. Over 95% of workers with yellow spots on at least one of the following: posterior half of scutum, pronotal lobes, upper mesopleuron behind scrobal furrow, lower mesopleuron. Upper metapleuron usually marked with yellow. Propodeum with a pair of yellow spots in worker and exceptionally in queen, absent in male. Black basomedial mark of tergum 1 usually with very broad base (in queen extending across whole width of tergum), in extremely xanthic workers width of basal attachment sometimes only slightly more than 2x mid ocellar diameter. Tergum 2 in worker rarely, in queen usually with free black discal spots; terga 3–5 in worker rarely, in queen always with free discal spots.

Distribution. Canada: NS, QC to MB. Eastern U.S. west to ND, SD, IA, MO, and along Appalachians south to GA and TN (Carpenter and Kojima 1997).

Biology. Nests are subterranean. Females prey on live arthropods and scavenge on carrion, like other species of the V. vulgaris-group. This species is less common around human dwellings than V. germanica and V. maculifrons but can still be pestiferous at times (Akre et al. 1981).

 

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