Vespula austriaca
Austrian cuckoo wasp ( Vespula austriaca )
The Austrian cuckoo wasp ( Vespula austriaca ) is a cuckoo wasp of the order Hymenoptera ( Hymenoptera). She lives as a social parasite of the Red Wasp ( Vespula rufa).
Features
The wasps reach a body length of 15 to 19 mm (females ) or 13 to 16 millimeters (male). Your clypeus is completely colored yellow or carrying three black dots.
Occurrence
The species occurs in Europe, east to the Far East and in the north of North America before. In southern Europe, they are only found in the mountains. They settled as their host species, various open habitats and hardly occurs in the vicinity of man. It is rare in Central Europe and flies from late June to late August. Young animals of the new generation fly from mid-July.
Way of life
The Austrian cuckoo wasp is a social parasite of the Red Wasp. Their way of life is largely unknown.