D I S C O V E R    L I F E   
Bee Hunt! Odonata Lepidoptera 
  HomeAll Living ThingsIDnature guidesGlobal mapperAlbumsLabelsSearch
  AboutNewsEventsResearchEducationProjectsStudy sitesHelp


Vespula vidua (Saussure, 1854)
GROUND HORNET
Life   Insecta   Hymenoptera   Vespoidea   Vespidae   Vespula

Vespula vidua, face
© altered from Miller 1961by Grace Chen · 1
Vespula vidua, face

Click on map for details about points.

Links
80x5 - 240x3 - 240x4 - 320x1 - 320x2 - 320x3 - 640x1 - 640x2
Set display option above.
Click on images to enlarge.
Vespula vidua, queen abdomen
© altered from Miller 1961by Grace Chen · 1
Vespula vidua, queen abdomen
Vespula vidua, male abdomen
© altered from Miller 1961by Grace Chen · 1
Vespula vidua, male abdomen

Vespula vidua, worker abdomen
© altered from Miller 1961by Grace Chen · 1
Vespula vidua, worker abdomen
Vespula vidua, distribution
© from Akre 1981 · 1
Vespula vidua, distribution

Vespula vidua, distribution
© Miller 1961 · 1
Vespula vidua, distribution
Overview
Akre, R.D., A. Greene, J.F. MacDonald, P.J. Landholt, and H.G. Davis. (1981). Yellowjackets of North America, North of Mexico. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Handbook #552.


Vespula vidua is restricted entirely to the Transition and Upper Austral Zones of eastern North America (fig. 50). The nesting biology of this species was studied MacDonald and Matthews (1976), but detailed information is lacking. Seemingly less restricted to forested habitats than V acadica and V. consobrina, V. vidua commonly nests in disturbed areas (yards, pastures) as well as forests from Minnesota and Iowa to the New England States, then south into northern Georgia. The relative abundance of V. vidua in many of these areas is unknown. In many respects—nest habitats and locations, size and architecture (fig. 51), seasonal duration and size of colonies, adult size—V. vidua is the eastern counterpart of V. atropilosa. Indeed, without the presence of adults or developed pupae, a nest of V. vidua cannot be distinguished from a nest of V. atropilosa. Although most nests of V. vidua are subterranean, it has also been reported as nesting in decaying logs (MacDonald and Matthews, 1976). and in manmade structures (Ebeling, 1975, and Shew2). The seasonal cycle of V. vidua is short as is common for V. rufa group members. The largest colony (six analyzed) constructed a nest of 2,447 cells and had an estimated adult worker population of 385 at its peak of development (MacDonald and Matthews, 1976). Nests consisted of one worker-producing comb and from one to three reproductive-producing combs. Although Wagner and Reierson (1971a) reported V. vidua workers as pests around picnic tables, they were probably capturing insects in the area or momentarily attracted to odors. This species is not a stinging hazard to humans unless the nest is located in structures or yards where the colony can be disturbed by human activities.




Reprinted with permission from: Miller, C.D.F. 1961 Taxonomy and Distribution of Nearctic Vespula. The Canadian Entomologist Supplement 22.


Diagnostic Characters
Color.—Black with yellow markings. Structure.—Malar space less than half as long as the penultimate antennal segment (Fig. 1); occipital carina incomplete (Fig. 4); discs of abdominal tergites almost void of erect hairs, those present are short, black, sparse and inconspicuous; digitus of male genitalia not more than one third the length of distal, saddle-shaped portion of aedeagus (Fig. 16). Abdominal Color Patterns.—as in Figs. 34, 37, 40. Facial Color Pattern.—as in Fig. 76.

This Nearctic species is restricted almost entirely to the Transition and Upper tral zones of eastern North America.

Miller (1958) demonstrated why this entity deserves specific recognition. bike its close relatives V. acadica, V. atropilosa, V. intermedia and V. consobrina it is easily recognized over its entire range. In fact it is even structurally different from these forms. The author continues to recognize it as a good species. Ecological Notes.—The nest of this species is reported as being terrestrial.


Supported by
go to Discover Life's Facebook group

Following served from Vespula vidua, Tom Murray, http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74
   
Top | See original context

Updated: 2024-03-29 14:45:31 gmt
Discover Life | Top
© Designed by The Polistes Corporation