Dolichovespula norwegica (Fabricius, 1781)

Dvořák, Libor, Roberts, Stuart P. M., Pla, Šumava Np and & Caer, 2006, Key to the paper and social wasps of Central Europe (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 46, pp. 221-244 : 235-236

Dolichovespula norwegica (Fabricius, 1781) – Norwegian Wasp

The vast majority of specimens have a pair of large red spots on gastral tergum 2, sometimes reduced to small points – this characteristic separates D. norwegica from other Dolichovespula . Red colour can be lost in some specimens, which can be problematic to separate from D. saxonica . Additional characters are: Clypeus with longitudinal black stripe regularly touching lower margin. Postscutellum practically always without yellow spots. Males differ from D. saxonica by gonostipes, by only one visible tyloid on lower parts of antennal segments 9-12, and by black antennal scapus.

Boreoalpine species which rarely occurs at lower altitudes. Very common species in mountains and in larger forests; dominant in mountain peat-bogs.