Dolichovespula saxonica (Fabricius, 1793)

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 : 235

Dolichovespula saxonica (Fabricius, 1793) – Saxon Wasp

Sometimes it is difficult to separate this species from D. norwegica . In addition to characters listed in the key, the following may also assist in separating the species: Clypeus variably coloured, usually with black stripe which does not touch the lower margin; less often with small central black spot or completely without black colour. Postscutellum regularly with two yellow spots. Populations with reduced black colour on clypeus are similar to D. sylvestris , from which they can be separated by the presence of sparse and fine punctures on lower half of clypeus. Its social parasite D. adulterina has apically pointed anterior angles of clypeus and very narrow aedeagus. Males differ from D. norwegica by gonostipes, by having two tyloids on lower parts of antennal segments 9-12, and by antennal scapus coloured yellow or brown ventrally.

Common forest wasp species. More common at higher altitudes, at lower altitudes partly replaced by D. sylvestris .