A wasp nest is a delicate matter in itself - especially if it is in your own garden. In order to be able to deal with insects specifically, it is important to know about them. The most important information about earth wasps: They don't actually exist!
Which species belong to the so-called earth wasps?
Earth wasps are not a separate species, but a colloquial name for wasp species that nest in the ground, such as the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German wasp (Vespula germanica). Both belong to the genus of short-headed wasps (Vespula).
Earth wasps – a popular creation
The so-called earth wasps are not initially a zoological species term. Rather, it is a common name for wasp species that nest in the ground. The wasp species that do this are also the most common ones in Central Europe: the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German wasp (Vespula germanica). They belong to the genus of short-headed wasps (Vespula)
To remember:
- Earth wasps not a zoological species name
- Term refers to wasp species that nest in the ground
- Related: Common and German Wasps
Common and German wasp in portrait
Common wasp
Appearance
The common wasp is the smaller of the two “earth wasp species”. The workers you are most likely to meet at the patio table or while strolling through the garden are 11 to 14 mm long. Another comparatively clear difference from the German wasp is the wider, thicker black horizontal line on its forehead. The abdomen has different appearances, but always has the black and yellow line markings typical of wasps.
Nutrition
Adult common wasps feed on sweets - in nature they go for nectar-containing flowers and plant juices, and when they are close to people they go for cakes, open jars of jam and fruit juice. The annoying thing: a table that has been discovered once and set again and again remains stubbornly in their memory! This can definitely spoil the desire for summer meals on the terrace. Their larvae need a lot of protein and are therefore fed with insect pulp.
Nest building
Common wasps like to use existing mouse or mole burrows or even piles of stones as nesting opportunities. However, they are not limited to underground or ground-level areas - they also sometimes consider roller shutter boxes or roof trusses to be suitable. The term “earth wasps” only applies to common wasps in certain nesting years! In the cave they found, the animals create a construct of brood cells. To do this, they use rotten wood, which gives the nest a beige tint.
German wasp
Appearance
If the common wasp is the smaller earth wasp species, the German wasp is of course the larger one. Their workers reach a length of 12 to 16 millimeters. The best way to identify a German wasp is to look directly into its face: its characteristic feature is three black dots under the thinner, sometimes interrupted frontal plate line.
Nutrition and nest building
When it comes to nutrition and nest building, German wasps are like common wasps. Here too, the adults like it sweet and the larvae like it protein. Since they tend to use fresher wood to build their nests, their buildings are a little darker and grayer in color than those of common wasps.
