Skip to content

Te katipō Tiamana

German wasp nest

Vespula germanica (Fabricius)
Hoki ki te He aha tēnei pepeke? Back to What is this bug?
German wasp [Vespula germanica] nest. Image: Phil Bendle Collection CitSciHub.nz

German wasp Vespula germanica nest. Image: Phil Bendle Collection CitSciHub.nz

Pūtoi
Order
Hymenoptera
Whānau
Family
Vespidae
Show in English Te Reo

Te Rahi

  • He pepeke āhua rahi, tērā ka tipu ngā kuīni rahi kia 20 mm te roa

Size range

  • Medium–sized insects, large queens up to 20 mm in length

Te Tītaringa

  • I tau pokerehū mai ki Aotearoa

Distribution

  • Accidentally introduced

Te Huringa Ora

  • He wero tonu. Tērā ka mate pāwera ētahi tāngata i tana wero
  • Kei raro i te whenua tana kōhanga, kei ngā piere rānei i rō whare.
  • Ka wakuwaku i ngā kaka rākau mai i te mata o te papa hei hanga kōhanga māna.
  • Kai ai i ngā pepeke iti, i te huarākau, i te ngongo, i te waimiere. Ka hamu anō i ngā ika mate.
  • Tērā anō tētahi momo āhua rite, ko Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus) te ingoa, ka kitea i Aotearoa.

Life history

  • Sting. Some people may be allergic
  • Nest underground or in crevices in buildings
  • Rasp wood fibres from the surface of timber to use in nest formation
  • Feed on small insects, fruit, nectar and honeydew. Scavenge on dead fish
  • A similar species, Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus), is also found in New Zealand

He pārongo atu anō

Further information

Gallery

German wasp [Vespula germanica] head side on Image
German wasp Vespula germanica head side on
A queen German wasp [Vespula germanica] Image
A queen German wasp Vespula germanica
German wasp [Vespula germanica] - black dots on the abdomen, which are usually (but not always) separate from the black rings (variable). Image
German wasp Vespula germanica - black dots on the abdomen, which are usually (but not always) separate from the black rings (variable).
German wasp [Vespula germanica] head side on - a complete yellow band behind the eye. Image
German wasp Vespula germanica head side on - a complete yellow band behind the eye.
German wasp [Vespula germanica] face - black dots or a vertical black line. Image
German wasp Vespula germanica face - black dots or a vertical black line.
German wasp [Vespula germanica] nest. Image: Phil Bendle Collection CitSciHub.nz Image
German wasp Vespula germanica nest. Image: Phil Bendle Collection CitSciHub.nz