Dolichovespula saxonica
Queen with four days old nest
The Saxon Wasp ( Dolichovespula saxonica ) is a species of the genus of Dolichovespula ( Dolichovespula ). The species is also in the nest area very peaceful and is not to sweet foods. Through their synanthropic life, especially in attics nest free the animals are often destroyed their nests by people from ignorance and fear. However, the species is not endangered.
Features
The queens of this kind reach a body length of 15-18 mm, workers are 11 to 14 millimeters long, drones 13 to 15 millimeters. The drawing on the head shield ( clypeus ) and the abdomen is variable. Most of the head shield has extended upwards black markings, and the eyes bay has only the top of a narrow yellow-colored stripes. On the temples is located above and below, a small yellow spot. The males of the species can be distinguished unambiguously from the other Dolichovespula only by genital examinations. From the similar forest wasp ( Dolichovespula sylvestris ) you can type on the basis of extensive black subscribed head shield distinguish the false cuckoo wasp ( Dolichovespula adult erina ) differs from it as well by its head shield, which although similar patterned, but pulled out at the bottom corners in two peaks is.
Occurrence
The species occurs from the Pyrenees across central and northern Europe from east to Japan. They settled various open habitats and human settlement area. The animals fly from mid-May to early September, where workers occur in early June, queens and drones of the new generation from the end of June. The type is the most common long head wasp in Central Europe and occurs almost everywhere frequently.
Way of life
The Saxon wasps lay their nests similar to the forest wasp hanging freely in a protected location and also in or on houses, lofts etc.. The gray colored nests are made of weathered wood and reach a diameter of up to 25 centimeters, with large nests develop an elongated shape. You have no air pockets, and its surface is smooth. Frequently one finds particularly in attics numerous small, abandoned nests, resulting from the failed nest establishment attempts. The nests usually consist of three to six honeycomb whose edges are bent, and up to 2,000 cells. Maximum settle about 1,000 individuals a nest, where it is about 100 to 300 workers. The people developed relatively rapidly in the Saxon wasp. The species is parasitized by the cuckoo wasp wrong.