These common wasps rely on new nests to rear offspring since they not have their own worker caste.

Ant bite has resulted fatally, as has a single sting from the common wasp.

V. rufa is a common wasp species.

It is calculated that the total weight of common wasps in these places may exceed that of all birds.

Diaeretiella rapae is a common wasp parasitoid of cabbage aphids.

This makes its sting viable for personal defense when away from the colony, and the common wasp is therefore more apt to sting.

Common wasps will also attempt to invade honey bees' nests to steal their honey.

Perhaps I am prejudiced against our common wasp, but these relatives of the tree wasp seem altogether more handsome and welcome.

And meek little moths, beetles and hoverflies do an almost perfect imitation of common wasps.

Unfortunately for the Kaka it has competition for the honeydew from another human-introduced pest - the common wasp.

The common wasp, Vespula vulgaris, engages in worker policing, and it is known that a significant number of workers have active ovaries.

Angelica is also thought to attract common wasps, which will destroy anything from aphids and other flying pests to small and large white caterpillars.

Vespula vulgaris (common wasp)

More recent introductions are the New Zealand flatworm, the Spanish slug, and the common wasp which all have become part of the natural fauna.

These quite common wasps can be found in most of Europe and in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt).

Common wasp (V. vulgaris)

If you can get close enough to see, the German wasp's face carries three distinct black dots while the Common wasp's sports a kind of anchor shape.

Despite its appearance the Euro wasp is as easy to remove as the Common wasp and should not be a cause of unnecessary alarm to residents.

German wasps were, however, quickly succeeded in much of the South Island and its beech forests by the introduction of the common wasp in the 1970s.

The name Vespula vulgaris comes from the origin of the word 'vulgaris' which means 'common' in Latin, therefore giving the name, the common wasp.

Along with the closely related common wasp and two species of Polistes, the German wasp is considered to be a pest in New Zealand.

This species has many synonyms such as the 'common wasp', 'European wasp', Paravespula vulgaris, or the 'common yellow jacket'.

It is very similar to the common wasp (V. vulgaris), but unlike the common wasp, has three tiny black dots on the clypeus.

Parasitic braconid wasps will also inject their eggs into the developing caterpillar and I have also seen the common wasp pick up one and carry it away.

German wasps also have black dots on their abdomens, while the common wasp's analogous markings are fused with the black rings above them, forming a different pattern.

The average life span of an adult Vespula vulgaris is known to be around two weeks (fourteen days).

However, when they detect life-threatening level of danger, the Vespula vulgaris workers will vigorously defend their nest.

In the UK there are seven species considered as pest species: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) One of the most abundant of the UK species it will nest either underground or in the cavities of trees and buildings, for example roof tiles and lifts.

The Vespula vulgaris queens and females appear very similar to the German wasps (or European wasp, Vespula germanica) except when they are seen head on, the Vespula vulgaris face lacks the three black dots of Vespula germanica.