Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order HYMENOPTERA

POLISTINAE
The Paper Wasps are familiar to everyone. They are social and construct paper nests either exposed or in the soil. Polistes fuscatus is the common wasp seen at open combs on the eaves of buildings.

VESPINAE
Species of Dolichovespula construct enclosed aerial paper nests. Dolichovespula maculata, the Bald-faced Hornet, sometimes constructs its large nests on buildings. D. arenaria does so on tree limbs in wooded areas. D. arctica is a social parasite. The genus Vespula has underground nests, and are commonly referred to as Yellow Jackets. Vespula maculifrons is most frequently encountered, followed by V. consobrina and V. vidua. V. flavipilosa is rare. Specimens are generally taken at Solidago blooms. All have annual colonies and feed their larvae with masticated caterpillars, etc.

EUMENINAE
The Mason Wasps construct nests of mud, or nest in burrows, cavities in twigs, or the abandoned nests of other wasps. Most provision with caterpillars. Adults are commonly seen on the ground in open areas or at flowers. Species of Eumenes (fraternus, crucifer) have a petiolate abdomen and construct clay pots that are provisioned with caterpillars. Species of Ancistrocerus (adiabatus, antilope, catskill, waldeniis, parietum) generally nest in the ground. Species of Euodynerus (leucomelas, foraminatus, boscii, ++) are large and robust. Also collected are Leptochilus sp, Parancistrocerus spp, Symmorphus spp and Stenodynerus spp. They are primarily twig nesters.