Northern Paper Wasp, Polistes fuscatus
Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, 2007-09-23
Much less aggressive and problematic than the invasive European cousins from Day 4. Nonetheless getting too close to a nest would be an incredibly stupid thing to do. Like most social wasps they will defend their nests if disturbed. Otherwise they leave humans well enough alone.
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Bald-faced Hornet, Dolichovespula maculata
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2007-08-18
Not really a hornet at all, this species is more closely related to yellowjackets. Like yellowjackets, they are omnivorous and both collect pollen and eat insects, even other wasps.
Although they have a reasonably distinctive appearance in the field, bald-faced hornets are most easily recognized by the large, paper nests they construct in trees. Sometimes these are easier to find when the leaves fall off the trees, but this one has been visible in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens for months now.
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European paper-wasp, Polistes dominulus
2007-08-18
Zebra Mussels, Kudzu, Cane Toads, and European Starlings may get more press; but invasive, exotic species are crowding out native insects too. According to Wikipedia, the European Paper Wasp was first noticed in New Jersey in 1968; but the real damage seems to have been done by an infestation starting in Massachusetts in the late 1970s. It has since spread up and down the East Coast. Exactly how much damage it’s doing to native wasp species is an open question. However, on a recent trip to Jamaica Bay Wildlife refuge it was the only wasp I found, and I saw several colonies set up inside bird feeders. This can’t be good.
Pay special attention to the yellow antennae. This is the easiest way to distinguish it from native species such as the Eastern Yellowjacket.
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Pipe Organ Mud Dauber, Trypoxylon politum
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2007-
Mud Daubers are more recognized by their nests than the wasps themselves. Above we have the nest of the aptly named “Pipe Organ” Mud Dauber. The adults are plain black and relatively non-descript for a wasp. As usually goes along with such non-descriptness, the Pipe Organ Mud Dauber is relatively harmless compared to other wasps such as yellowjackets. They avoid humans, and won’t sting unless seriously provoked (e.g. by catching one in your hand). They will build nests on human habitations. (I found this one outside the men’s room at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.) However aside from the aesthetic issues of having mud pipes on your walls, there’s little reason to remove them.
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Eumenes Fraternus
Fort Tilden, Queens, 2007-09-23
Today’s wasp is a member of the Potter Wasp family, which are named after the pot-like mud nests they construct. There are actually several species of Potter Wasps that don’t have individual English common names, probably because they don’t really bother most people and don’t stand out like yellowjackets. Still, these are decent sized wasps (1.5 to 2 cm from head to tail) that are often seen visiting flowers in gardens. As both a pollinator and a caterpillar eater, this wasp is highly beneficial to gardeners.
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Eastern Yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons
Floyd Bennett Field, 2007-09-23
This is a female worker. Color patterns vary on drones and queens.
There are actually several yellowjacket species, and quite a few more wasps that look like yellowjackets. There are even flies that mimic this color pattern to scare away potential predators. Maculifrons used to be the most common “true” yellowjacket on the East Coast and still seems to be around New York City. However, in some areas it is losing ground to the invasive German Yellowjacket, Vespula germanica.
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