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European Wasp with a what's left of a Honey Bee, a small group of wasps were hanging around the entrance of a hive picking off the Honey Bees. I'm unsure if the species of wasp is Vespula germanica or V. vulgaris. Link below has great I.D detail http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds...
Apparently the cold winter in Europe kills off the workers leaving queens to start fresh every year. In Aus when we have a mild winter the workers live on creating the potential for super nests. It is believed the high density of wasps this year is due to a relatively mild winter.
here is the link to : v.germanica or vulgaris in new zealand journal
https://books.google.co.id/books?id=t7YK...
and that is Nice Photo anyway thanks for sharing, have nice day
Definitely a tricky one Rendy, I'll look into the papers you've mentioned an see if I have any luck :)
well, I was thinking that they are just same. my bad.
I just realize that there are two species that looks similiar each other. and now, I just can't say is it vugaris or germanica by looking at the pictures.
you need to keep this yellowjacket for a while to specific indentification and you may read New Zealand Journal of Zoology 1989 and searching for vespula germanica Edwards (1980) identification key. it will help you a lot .
but, it might vespula germanica female. just my suggestion :)
v. vulgaris : http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=sites/w...
v.germanica : http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=sites/w...
Thanks Rendy, out of interest what features do you use to separate V. germanica from V. vulgaris? I've had trouble working it out.