Vespula maculifrons (du Buysson)

Kimsey, Lynn S. & Carpenter, James M., 2012, The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 28, pp. 37-65 : 47

Vespula maculifrons (du Buysson) Figs 12 22 43 68 84

Vespa maculifrons “S.” Harris (in Hitchcock) 1853:589. Nomen nudum .

Vespa communis de Saussure 1857:117. Syntype females; "America septentr." (GENEVA, PARIS). Nec Vespa communis von Schrank 1785.

Vespa maculifrons “H.” du Buysson 1905 (1904):608, as a synonym of Vespa communis de Saussure 1857. Holotype female; Deleware: Wilmington" (LONDON). Available under Article 11.6.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Vespa communis var. flavida Sladen 1918:71. Holotype female; Canada (repository unknown).

Distribution.

This species is the most common Vespula occurring east of the 100th meridian.

Biology.

It builds subterranean nests in a wide variety of situations, even in abandoned vehicles. These yellow jackets prey on live insects and are also scavengers of sources of protein and sugar.

Figures

Figures 2 - 13. 11 - 12 Front view of face 5 - 7 Dorsal view of head 8 - 10 Lateral view of head 11 Dorsal view of thorax 12, 13 Lateral view of male metasomal tergum VII.

Figures 14 - 25. Front view of face, antennae removed. Vpl. = Vespula.

Figures 38 - 47. Dorsal view of worker metasoma.

Figures 59 - 71. Lateral view of genital capsule in Vespula (Vpl). Abbreviations: ae = aedeagus p = paramere.

Figures 72 - 84. Ventral view of genital capsule in Vespula (Vpl). Abbreviations: A. = dorsal view of paramere ae = aedeagus p = paramere v = volsella Vpl. = Vespula.