Dolichovespula media (Retzius, 1783)
(European Wasp)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesDolichovespula media (European Wasp)
GenusDolichovespula (a genus of social wasps)
SubfamilyVESPINAE (wasps)
FamilyVESPIDAE (potter, mason and social wasps)
SuperfamilyVESPOIDEA (wasps)
InfraorderAculeata (aculeates: bees, wasps and ants)
SuborderAPOCRITA (bees, wasps, ants and parasitoids)
OrderHYMENOPTERA (ants, bees and wasps, sawflies and parasitoid wasps)
Division Endopterygota (bees, beetles, flies, moths and other insects with wings developing internally)
InfraclassNeoptera (bees, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other advanced insects)
SubclassPTERYGOTA (bees, beetles, dragonflies, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other winged insects)
ClassINSECTA (true insects)
SubphylumHEXAPODA (insects and other 6-legged organisms)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Dolichovespula media (European Wasp) :
1: Dolichovespula media (European Wasp)
26 Feb 2022 OSGR: SU00 50° 50’ N, 1° 60’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
old grey wasp nest, hanging from frond of palm tree in garden
Image 1: Carton - outer layer - close-upImage 2: Carton - second layer - close-upImage 3: Comb with carton removed - face view - natural backgroundImage 4: Comb with carton removed - lateral view - natural backgroundImage 5: Old nest - upturned - bottom view - natural backgroundImage 6: Old nest - upturned - natural backgroundImage 7: Old nest - upturned - natural background (2)Image 8: Old nest - upturned - natural background (3)Image 9: Old nest - upturned - natural background (4)
2: Dolichovespula media (European Wasp)
17 Aug 2010 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
nest in Firethorn bush against east-facing house wall
Image 1: Nest - in situImage 2: Nest - in situ with obscuring branches removedImage 3: Nest - lain on ground
3: Dolichovespula media (European Wasp)
10 May 2007 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Queen, at rest on Skimmia japonica
Image 1: Queen - dorso-lateral view - close-up
4: Dolichovespula media (European Wasp)
2 Aug 2003 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Male, resting on plastic garden chair on patio
Image 1: Male - dorsal view - enlargedImage 2: Male - dorsal view - enlarged (2)Image 3: Male - ventral view - enlargedImage 4: Male - abdomen and everted genital capsule - ventral - magnifiedImage 5: Male - everted genital capsule - ventral - magnifiedImage 6: Male - face and antennae - magnified

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Philips, A. & Roberts, S. 2010 Information Sheet 9: Median Wasp (Dolichovespula media)

Dolichovespula media (European Wasp) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Dolichovespula media (European Wasp)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 0 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Dolichovespula media (European Wasp)
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