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Project Noah Nature School
Dolichovespula arenaria
Roughly 12 millimeters in body length, colored as shown. This is the typical abdominal pattern for this species: First yellow band on abdomen is broken in middle. Spots on terga 4 and 5 are disconnected from black stripe above each pair.
This wasp was on the ground in a demonstration garden with native and ornamental plants of all kinds. Native habitat is a riparian corridor with cottonwood and elm trees.
Like the Bald-faced "hornet," this species makes large paper nests above ground. These are strictly fly predators and are not a nuisance at cookouts and picnics.
Spotted on Aug 30, 2013
Submitted on Jan 12, 2014
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