Wasps

Belong to the order of “HYMENOPTERA”, & are probably the most feared of all Insects as they’re notorious for their painful bites & stings.

 

This order also includes:

 

Common Blue Banded Bee
(Amegilla cingulata) 

Common Blue Banded Bee

Color: Blue bands across its black abdomen
Size: 1.2 cm
Active period of Adults: Spring, Summer and Autumn 
Habitat: Urban areas, forests, woodlands & heath
Status: common in NE Victoria
Distribution: Most of Australia but not known in Tasmania of Northern Territory
Additional notes: because of its darting, hovering flight pattern this insect is almost impossible to catch in a net. 


 

European Wasp
(Vespula germanica)

 European Wasp (Image will be Replaced)

Color: bright yellow & black
Active period of Adults: Autumn, Spring to Summer. The Queen hibernates in Winter & emerges in Spring to establish a new nest. 
Status/distribution: frequently common in Victoria, wide spread across most of Australia including Tasmania.
General notes: These wasps form large colonies, they can sting you several times & it is very painful. They are becoming a significent problem. Often found flying around rubish tips, bins going for sweets. 

 

 

Emerald Cuckoo Wasp
(Stilbum cyanurum)

 Emerald Cuckoo Wasp (Image will be Updated)

Color: Metallic Green-Blue
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
General notes: The Cuckoo bird likes to use the nests of other birds to lay its eggs, & thats how the Cuckoo Wasp got its name. it lays its eggs beside the eggs of other wasps because its to lazy to find food & a home of its own.
It doesn't like intruders so the wasp rolls itself into a hard shiny ball to protect itself.

 

 

 

Flower Wasp

Flower Wasp

Color: bright orange abdomen / wings black body & hairy legs
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Habitat: Urban areas, forests, woodlands & heath
Status: common in NE Victoria
Distribution: Not sure about other states

 

 

 

Hairy Flower Wasp
(Scolia sp.)

 Hairy Flower Wasp (Image will be Updated)

Color: vivid purple, blue
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
General notes: The Hairy Flower is one of Australia’s most striking wasps, for its bright vivid purple / blue colours. Adults visit a huge variety of shrubs. including bottlebrush, pig face, banksias etc.

 
 

  

Paper Wasp
(Polistes tasmaniensis)

 Paper Wasp


Color: dark brown
Size: up to 2.2 cm
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Habitat: Urban areas, forests, woodlands & heath
Status: common in NE Victoria
Distribution: Not sure about other states
Additional notes: Paper wasps live in small colonies each with their own queen, who builds a nest from chewed up wood. She lays an egg into each compartment in the nest & carefully tends to the larvae, by fanning them with her wings in the hot weather. Adults catch caterpillars & feed them to the grubs. These wasps can give a painful sting if they are threatened.

   

 

Spider-Hunting Wasp 

 Spider Hunting Wasp (Image will be Updated)


Color: bright orange & black
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
General notes: These wasps are excellent hunters, adult females paralyze spiders with a sting, which are then to be stored in underground burrows & become food source for spider wasp grubs.

   

   

Yellow-Banded Club Wasp  
(Sceliphron laetum) 

 Yellow Banded Club Wasp


Color: Bright yellow & black markings
Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
Status/distribution: common in NE Victoria
General notes: also called the "Mud dauber wasp" these insects build their nest from mud & water. Adult female wasps paralyze spiders take them back their lair, & the grubs have a supplied food source.

 

Menu