Vespinae, Latreille, 1802

Dvořák, Libor, Roberts, Stuart P. M., Pla, Šumava Np and & Caer, 2006, Key to the paper and social wasps of Central Europe (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 46, pp. 221-244 : 226-231

Key to the social wasps ( Vespinae )

Social wasps can be easily distinguished from paper wasps by having tergum 1 parallel-sided.

1 Vertex long. Distance of ocellus to apical margin of head ca 3-4 times as long as distance of ocellus to compound eye ( Fig. 23 ). .............................. Vespa crabro Linnaeus, 1758

– Vertex not so long. Distance of ocellus to apical margin of head only slightly longer than distance of ocellus to compound eye ( Fig. 24 ). ............................................................. 2

2 Oculo-malar space short – distance between mandible and lower margin of eye small, shorter than width of antennal scape ( Fig. 25 ). Vespula Thomson, 1869 . ..................... 3

– Oculo-malar space long – distance between mandible and lower margin of eye large, the same or longer than width of antennal scape ( Fig. 38 ). Dolichovespula Rohwer, 1916 . ....................................................................................................................................... 6

3 Ocular sinus entirely yellow. Tergum 1 with pale hairs ( Fig. 26 ). ................................. 4

– Ocular sinus yellow only in the lower part. Tergum 1 with black hairs ( Fig. 31). ......... 5

4 Margin behind third mandibular tooth distinctly concave ( Fig. 27 ). Males: Aedeagus without small backwardly directed pointed barb on each side bellow apical spoon-shaped region. Aedeagus emarginate apically ( Fig. 28 ). .............................................................. ............................................................................. Vespula germanica (Fabricius, 1793)

– Margin behind third mandibular tooth straight ( Fig. 29 ). Males: Aedeagus with small backwardly directed pointed barb on each side bellow apical spoon-shaped region. Aedeagus rounded apically ( Fig. 30 ). ............................... Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758)

5 Hind tibia with short hairs only ( Fig. 32). Anterior angles of clypeus bluntly produced in queens and workers ( Fig. 33). Males: Apex of aedeagus with shallow emargination in middle, sides of its apical part with shallow emargination ( Fig. 34). .............................. ........................................................................................ Vespula rufa (Linnaeus, 1758)

– Hind tibia with short yellow and long black hairs on outer margins ( Fig. 35). Anterior angles of clypeus sharply produced in queens ( Fig. 36). Parasitic species, without workers. Males: Apex of aedeagus straight in middle, sides of its apical part distinctly emarginated ( Fig. 37). ......................................................... Vespula austriaca (Panzer, 1799)

6 Lower pronotum rugose ( Fig. 39 ). Ocular sinus almost entirely yellow. ......................... ........................................................................... Dolichovespula media (Retzius, 1783)

– Lower pronotum not rugose ( Fig. 40 ). Ocular sinus yellow in lower part. .................... 7

7 Lower third of clypeus with dense and coarse punctures. Distances between punctures on the centre of clypeus more or less equal to puncture diameter ( Fig. 41 ). Clypeus yellow, rarely with 1-3 black spots in middle. ............................................................................ 8

– Lower third of clypeus with sparse and fine punctures. Distances between punctures on the centre of clypeus larger than puncture diameter ( Fig. 45 ). Clypeus usually with black longitudinal stripe which is sometimes reduced into 1-3 black spots in middle; exceptionally completely yellow. .................................................................................................. 9

8 Anterior angles of clypeus sharply produced and pointed apically in queens ( Fig. 41 ) and rectangular in males. Sting distinctly curved. Parasitic species, without workers. Males: Gonostipes narrow, inner side parallel up to ¾ of length, then slightly bow-shaped and not elongated backwards ( Fig. 42 ). ................. Dolichovespula omissa (Bischoff, 1931)

– Anterior angles of clypeus bluntly produced in all castes ( Fig. 43 ). Sting straight. Males: Gonostipes wide, inner side weakly emarginated basally, then parallel and elongated backwards ( Fig. 44 ). ............................................. Dolichovespula sylvestris (Scopoli, 1763)

9 Anterior angles of clypeus sharply produced and pointed apically in queens ( Fig. 45 ) and rectangular in males. Sting distinctly curved. Parasitic species, without workers. Males: Aedeagus laterally compressed, narrow, and pointed basally. Gonostipes parallel up to ¾ of length, then the inner side slightly bow-shaped ( Fig. 46 ). ........................................... .................................................................. Dolichovespula adulterina (Buysson, 1904)

– Anterior angles of clypeus bluntly produced in all castes ( Fig. 47 ). Sting straight. Males: Aedeagus wide, spoon-shaped basally. Inner side of gonostipes parallel up to ½ of length, then distinctly bow-shaped ( Figs. 49, 51 ). ................................................................... 10

10 Ocelli in equilateral triangle, distance from hind ocelli to margin of vertex equal or longer than distance between posterior ocelli ( Fig. 48 ). Tergum 2 without red colour. Mesopleura nearly always with bright hairs. Males: Dorsal inner margin of gonostipes strongly projecting inwards, posterior side straight or slightly concave ( Fig. 49 ). ........................ .................................................................... Dolichovespula saxonica (Fabricius, 1793)

– Ocelli in distinctly obtusangulate triangle, distance from hind ocelli to margin of vertex shorter than distance between posterior ocelli ( Fig. 50 ). Tergum 2 usually with red colour. Mesopleura nearly always with black hairs. Males: Dorsal inner margin of gonostipes slightly projecting inwards, posterior side distinctly concave ( Fig. 51 ). ......................... ................................................................. Dolichovespula norwegica (Fabricius, 1781)

Figures

Figs. 23-30. 23 – Vespa crabro Linnaeus, 1758, ocelli. 24-28 – Vespula germanica (Fabricius, 1793). 24 – ocelli; 25 – oculo-malar space; 26 – hairs on tergum 1; 27 – mandible; 28 – penis. 29-30 – V. vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758). 29 – mandible; 30 – penis. Obr. 23-30. 23 – Vespa crabro Linnaeus, 1758, ocelli. 24-28 – Vespula germanica (Fabricius, 1793). 24 – ocelli; 25 – líce; 26 – ochlupení 1. tergitu; 27 – kusadlo; 28 – penis. 29-30 – V. vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758). 29 – kusadlo; 30 – penis.

Figs. 38-44. 38-39 – Dolichovespula media (Retzius, 1783). 38 – oculo-malar space; 39 – lower part of pronotum. 40-42 – D. omissa (Bischoff, 1931). 40 – lower part of pronotum; 41 – queen clypeus; 42 – penis. 43-44 – D. sylvestris (Scopoli, 1763). 43 – queen clypeus; 44 – penis. Obr. 38-44. 38-39 – Dolichovespula media (Retzius, 1783). 38 – líce; 39 – spodní část pronota. 40-42 – D. omissa (Bischoff, 1931). 40 – spodní část pronota; 41 – klypeus královny; 42 – penis. 43-44 – D. sylvestris (Scopoli, 1763). 43 – klypeus královny; 44 – penis.

Figs. 45-51. 45-46 – Dolichovespula adulterina (Buysson, 1904). 45 – queen clypeus; 46 – penis. 47-49 – D. saxonica (Fabricius, 1793). 47 – queen clypeus; 48 – ocelli; 49 – penis. 50-51 – D. norwegica (Fabricius, 1781). 50 – ocelli; 51 – penis. Obr. 45-51. 45-46 – Dolichovespula adulterina (Buysson, 1904). 45 – klypeus královny; 46 – penis. 47-49 – D. saxonica (Fabricius, 1793). 47 – klypeus královny; 48 – ocelli; 49 – penis. 50-51 – D. norwegica (Fabricius, 1781). 50 – ocelli; 51 – penis.