Taxonomy

Dolichovespula (Pseudovespula) norwegica | Norwegian Wasp

Distribution

Status

Conservation status

Ireland: unknown.

Europe: unknown.

Global: unknown.   

Native status

Native.

Species Biology

Identification

  • Yellow and black - the vast majority of specimens have lateral reddish markings on tergites (sections of the abdomen) one to three. This characteristic separates D. norvegica from all other Dolichovespula. The red colour can be lost in some specimens, which can be problematic to separate from D. saxonica. 
  • The eyes are set well above the mandibles i.e. the oculo-malar space is long (the distance between mandible and lower margin of eye is the same or longer than the width of the antennal scape (the basal segment of the antennae)).
  • Ocular sinus black with a narrow yellow stripe present along its base.
  • Clypeus (front of the head between the eyes) is yellow with a longitudinal broad black stripe regularly touching the lower margin. This stripe is narrower on males.
  • Gena (band at the side of the head behind the eye) black with a yellow marking in the upper (dorsal) region of this feature.
  • Yellow lateral band on the thorax.

Habitat

D. norvergica can be found in many open habitats including urban areas but perhaps with a preference for heathland and moorland. Usually nests are made in aerial situations attached to shrubs from ground level to about one metre above the ground and on trees up to ten metres above the ground. Nests have been found attached under-hanging from man-made structures e.g. under the eaves of a house, on a wall, attached to a window frame or under a garden seat; or sometimes in an enclosed space, e.g. hollow trees, bird boxes, attics. 

Flight period

Mid- to late April to roughly around the period of early September.

Life cycle

The life cycle of social wasps including that of D. norwegica can be divided into four phases, namely the foundation, worker, reproductive, and intermediate phases but in common with all species of Dolichovespula, D. norwegica has a relatively short life-cycle.

Overwintering queens emerge from mid- to late April with nest foundation by the single queen from mid-May. The first workers emerge from early June which signals the start of the worker phase. The reproductives (new queens called gynes and males called drones) emerge from mid-July (i.e. the intermediate phase) and the colony usually terminates by the end of August with the death or inactivity of the queen. 

Nesting biology

The mature nest, on average, has about 1650 cells in three to five combs. Each colony either rears mainly males or new queens. 

Flowers visited

Spring queens visit the early flowers of cotoneaster and berberis for their nectar. Workers may visit figwort which has shallow flowers enabling the wasps to reach the nectaries. There are no records of other flowers being visited by this species, except for the Apiaceae when the fertilised queens then spend some time feeding on nectar from the umbels of hogweed and other Apiaceae, before seeking suitable over-wintering sites.

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Found throughout mainland England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland including Orkney and Shetlands. Elsewhere, it occurs in Europe (rare in southern Europe), North America and northern and central Asia from Turkey to Sakhalin. 

Irish distribution

Unknown.

Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024

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References

Publications

Archer, Michael E. (2012) Vespinae Wasps of the World: Behaviour, Ecology & Taxonomy of the Vespinae. Manchester: SIRI Scientific Press.

Archer, Michael E. (2014) The Vespid Wasps: (Tipiidae, Mutillidae, Sapygidae, Scoliidae and Vespidae) of the British Isles. York: Royal Entomological Society. 

Dvorák, L. & Roberts, S.P.M. (2006) Key to the paper and social wasps of Central Europe (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 46: 221-244.


Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society: www.bwars.com (http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=wasp/vespidae/vespinae/vespula-vulgaris)

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