Species
Vespula vulgaris
Threats Status
Unwanted Organism
Common Name(s)
Common wasp
Family
Vespidae
Habitat
Common wasp occur on forest (natural and exotic, but most abundant in honeydew beech forest), shrubland and in urban and agricultural areas. Their nest is brown and generally in a hole dug in the soil, occasionally in crevices of tree trunks or stacked material or gaps in buildings. To build their nest common wasp uses fibre from dead or rotten wood.
They feed on fruit, nectar and honeydew and prey on invertebrates.
Description
Common wasps are of medium size and have a blackish-brown to black body with bright yellow rings. They are very similar to German wasps (Vespula germanica), but have a black mark behind the eye and an anchor-shaped mark on the "face" . They have yellow legs and translucent wings.
Similar Species
There are four other introduced wasp species in New Zealand, the German wasp (V. germanica), Australian paper wasp (Polistes hummulis), the Asian paper wasp (P. chinensis) and the Scoliid wasp (Radumeris tasmaniensis). See factsheets for those species for more information.
Threat To Plants
Prey on invertebrates and competition with honeybees and native bird species nectar and honeydew which may have secondary effects on the vegetation due to changes in ecosystem processes.
Distribution
Widespread throughout on both main islands and Steward Island, most abundant in beech forest.
Measurements
Body: 12-17mm long (queens up to 20mm)
Year Introduced
1970s
Reason For Introduction
Accidentally
Colonisation History
First introduced to New Zealand accidentally in 1970s