The Vespid Wasps contain some of the most instantly recognizable insects of all – Yellowjackets and Hornets of which we have approximately a dozen species in Alberta. There is really no major difference between Hornets and Yellowjackets. Hornets (like the Bald-faced Hornet) make paper nests that hang and are attached to trees or other structures. Yellowjackets (like the Western Yellowjacket) make their paper nests inside the ground, in abandoned burrows. The so-called true Hornet is an introduced species (Vespa crabro) which makes its nest inside hollow trees. All together we can call these the Vespine wasps.
There are two other groups of Vespid wasps that an Alberta bugwatcher should get to know – our single Polistine or Paper wasp (see Profile) and a number of Eumenine wasps, commonly known as Mason or Potter Wasps. The Mason or Potter Wasps share with the Vespines and Polistines the ability to defend themselves with a sting, but differ in that they are solitary nesters.
You can find Vespid Wasps anywhere in Alberta. In the spring, any Vespines you see are queens that have successfully overwintered and are establishing a colony that will only last for the season. It is usually late in the summer when the numbers of Vespines have swelled that people get nervous. About this time the wasps, change from just going about their business of hunting for caterpillars and similar insects or nectaring at flowers to becoming interested in our picnics, garbage and fruit ripening on trees.
All Vespids can be definitely identified by their characteristic wing venation. Casual bugwatchers out in the field can look for the characteristic way Vespids hold their wings folded longitudinally and held at each side when at rest. Then of course, there is the characteristic black and yellow or black and white colouration. Don’t be fooled by the various flies and even moths that mimic striped wasps. If you dare get a look at their faces, you will see strong jaws and eyes that seem almost crescent-shaped. Antennae are conspicuous.
Adults feed from nectar or sap other sweet substances but hunt for prey when provisioning their larvae. Caterpillars are a very common victim. All Vespids fashion nests with cells for their offspring – the Vespines and Polistines make paper nests with hexagonal cells while the solitary Eumenines make little mud cells in burrows or fashioned like little pots stuck to a surface.
Talk about Vespid Wasps on our moderated
message board. Get answers and share images. We are Alberta's largest and friendliest
online community of nature enthusiasts. Beginners and experts are
welcome. We are non-profit, non-commercial, ad free and spam free.
Where to find Vespid Wasps in Alberta
There is currently no information regarding this species in our Where & When database.
Please Report the Vespid Wasps You See in Alberta
Our readers are always interested in hearing about the wildlife you see in Alberta.
Vespid Wasp Family Behaviour
No observations regarding Vespid Wasp Family behavior have been submitted to the database yet.
Interesting Facts about Vespid Wasps
No interesting facts regarding Vespid Wasps have been submitted to the database yet.
Vespid Wasp Family Stories from our Readers
No stories regarding Vespid Wasps have been submitted to the database yet.
Recent Vespid Wasp Family Reports in Alberta
There are no Vespid Wasp Family records in our online database at this time.
Vespid Wasp Family Hotspots in Alberta
There are no Vespid Wasp Family records in our online database at this time.
