Polistes dominula
Gallic wasp ( Polistes dominula )
The Gallic paper wasp ( Polistes dominula, formerly P. gallica ), also known as French wasp, one within the family of wasps ( Vespidae ) to the genus Polistes.
Features
Workers and drones of the Gallic Feldwespe reach a body length of 11 to 15 mm, queens are about 18 mm long. On the abdomen ( tummy) they have a highly variable, yellow - black pattern. On the second abdominal segment ( Abdominaltergit ) two conspicuous yellow spots are visible, while the other tergites with yellow stripes. The underside of the last abdominal segment is yellow. Most of the head shield ( clypeus ) is completely yellow, fitted with southern individuals with a black spot in the middle. From the third scourge link the antennas are completely orange-yellow.
The Gallic Feldwespe differs from the other Central European wasps by their rather long legs, striking hanging down while flying. The legs have at the lower third of a distinct orange color, as are the antennae from the third link are colored yellow-orange.
Occurrence
Very remarkable is the continuing spread trend of wasps in the north. Of this kind is no occurrence was known until a few years ago in northern Germany, now it expanded within the last five years their range to Denmark from. Except in South, Central Europe and Asia, they are native has since been deported to Japan, Australia, North America and Chile, even there they have very good spread.
The animals inhabit open and warm area, such as grasslands and bush rich nations, and build their nests also like in the field of human settlements. They come there regularly to frequently and fly from April to September.
Behavior
The very useful Gallic wasp defend themselves only case of fault against the people. Otherwise, they are very peaceful.
Nutrition
They feed on prey on other insects and spiders, but also from flower nectar.
Nesting and reproductive
Usually the nest of the Gallic wasp in the spring of a young queen, or usually of several founded jointly. As buildings wood putty is needed, which is mixed from wood dried-up plant stems and the secretion of the salivary glands. The small, caseless (open outwards honeycomb) nest is on a nest stick built (as narrow terrific defense ) mostly in buildings or outside on a stem or stone vertically and consists of about 50 cells, but it can also sometimes contain up to 150 cells and attained a diameter of about 10 cm. It is supervised by up to about 30 workers. It is the workers possible to regulate the temperature in the nest: when hot it take to standing water or other water resources water and spit it onto the nest, then it is cooling befächelt with the wings; when it's cold they shiver with the muscles and thus give off heat.
Shortly after oviposition eats the most powerful queen, the brood of the challengers until they give up the oviposition and operate only as workers. If the strongest females die, followed by the second strongest in their position. The workers feed the larvae and queen with their insects (mostly flies) and spiders, which they chew and only pass in spherical form. From the beginning of June, the first workers and from the end of July females and males of the next generation hatch from the combs. In September perish the Gallic field wasps hibernate only the young queens.
Diseases and Parasites
The Gallic wasp can be infested by parasitoid Fächerflüglern the type Xenos vesparum.
More images
Large nest with larvae
Floating on the water surface
In the re- release ( regurgitation ) of a swallowed drop