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Vespinae

(Subfamily)

Overview

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The subfamily Vespinae contains the largest and best-known wasps, including true hornets (the genus Vespa), and the "yellowjackets" (genera Dolichovespula and Vespula). The remaining genus, Provespa is a small, poorly-known group of nocturnal wasps from Southeast Asia. Collectively, the group can be found on all continents except Antarctica, and several of these wasps are invasive species, introduced beyond their native range, and can be major pests.

Palaeovespa florissantia, an extinct wasp

Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Subfamily Vespinae is a member of the Family Vespidae. Here is the complete "parentage" of Vespinae:

The Subfamily Vespinae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Dolichovespula

Dolichovespula is a small of social wasps distributed widely throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The yellow and black members of the genus are known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow-jackets) in North America along with members of their sister genus Vespula. Others like the Bald-faced hornet are black and white. [more]

Paravespula

Paravespula is a small of yellowjacket wasps, including two of the best-known wasp species in the world; the German wasp, Vespula germanica, and the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris. It is occasionally treated as a separate genus, but this is not widely accepted. [more]

Squamosa

The fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, is one of a number of large species native to the shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian oceans. It is distinguished by the presence of large leaf-like fluted edges on its shell called 'scutes' and a byssal opening that is rather small as compared to other members of the Tridacnidae family. Normal coloration of the mantle ranges from browns and purples to greens and yellows arranged in elongated linear or spot-like patterns. Tridacna squamosa grows to 16 inches across. [more]

Vespa

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Vespula

Vespula is a small of social wasps, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Along with members of their sister genus Dolichovespula, they are collectively known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow-jackets) in North America. Vespula species have a shorter oculo-malar space (shown in the figure below) and a more pronounced tendency to nest underground than Dolichovespula. [more]

At least 37 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Vespula.

More info about the Genus Vespula may be found here.

Footnotes

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  1. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Vespa&search=Search

Sources

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Last Revised: January 24, 2010
2010/01/24 04:39:01