Vespula rufa

Red Wasp ( Vespula rufa) ( Queen )

The Red Wasp ( Vespula rufa ) is a wasp of the genus Vespula ( Vespula ) and thus belongs to the genuine wasps ( Vespinae ). The Red Wasp is one of the closest relatives of German ( Vespula germanica ) and the commons wasp ( Vespula vulgaris). In contrast to these she avoids the proximity of man and does not eat of its food. The Red Wasp is peaceful and is not considered a nuisance.

Features

The front two abdominal segments of the otherwise yellow black wasp drawn are shown in red. In Queens, the red drawing is often not very pronounced. In this coloring of the two front abdominal segments and the name of the species is declining. The queens of the Red Wasp, sixteen to twenty millimeters long. The workers are with ten to fourteen millimeters significantly smaller. The drones reach body lengths of thirteen to sixteen millimeters. The drawing on the front plate ( clypeus ) is reminiscent of an arrowhead, but is highly variable in the expression. The Red wasps resemble the rare Norwegian Wasp ( Dolichovespula norwegica ), a Langkopfwespenart.

Way of life

Nutrition

The adults ( imagoes ) feed mainly on the nectar of umbelliferous plants and honeydew from aphids. The larvae are fed with animal protein. For this, various flies and mosquito species are mainly captured and chewed to a pulp. The Red wasps are only very rarely found in human settlements and also do not go to food of the people.

Generally

Because of their diet, the Red Wasps are no pests unlike their close relatives the Germans and the commons wasp. The nest is only defended when it comes to disturbances in the immediate nest area.

Life cycle

From mid-April to mated females, the queens, are observed in the nest and search for food. The nests are usually built underground in abandoned mole or Mäusebauten. The life cycle is relatively short and ends at the beginning to mid-September. After the extinction of the nation wasps hibernate the mated females and establish the following year new races. A people of the Red Wasp comprises about 150 to 350 animals and is therefore much smaller than the peoples of the Germans and Commons wasps, which may include thousands of individuals.