Home Insects Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) Social or paper-nest wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae & Vespinae) Vespula germanica

Vespula germanica

European wasp

From the Atlas of Living Australia: The German wasp, Vespula germanica, is a vespid wasp native to Europe, Northern Africa and temperate Asia, that have recently invaded much of the new world (North America and South America), Australia and New Zealand, where they pose a significant pest to indigenous fauna. These wasps are still spreading, for example, along the western coast of the United States where they arrived in about 1980 and into Patagonia in 1990; in these new areas they are far more destructive to the environment than in regions where they are well established. German wasps are aggressive hunters of insects, which they masticate and feed to their larvae, and require large amounts of protein to feed their brood. The adults themselves eat pollen, nectar, other carbohydrates and secretions produced by their young. Although V. germanica can play a positive role in diminishing numbers of pest insects, this wasp also out-competes native species for food resources as well as directly killing native species to extinction, especially in recently invaded habitats. Vespula germanica also has a large negative impact on human activities such as bee-keeping, cattle rearing, and fruit orchards. German wasps look very similar to the closely related common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), but have a different coloration pattern on their face and back

Vespula germanica is listed in the following regions:

Canberra & Southern Tablelands  |  Southern Highlands  |  Albury, Wodonga  |  South Coast  |  Gippsland  |  South Australia

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only

Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Bega, NSW - 16 Aug 2019 by Harrisi Vespula germanica (European wasp) at - 10 Jul 2019 by DonneMunn Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Tarraganda, NSW - 10 May 2019 by Tara Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Bega, NSW - 27 Apr 2019 by Gaymer242 Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Yowrie, NSW - 10 Mar 2019 by ozzier2000 Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Nelson, NSW - 13 Jun 2018 by RossMannell Vespula germanica (European wasp) at - 23 May 2018 by RossMannell Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Wallagoot, NSW - 8 May 2018 by RossMannell Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Merimbula, NSW - 24 Apr 2018 by RossMannell Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Kiah, NSW - 12 Jan 2018 by jimm Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Bega, NSW - 3 Jun 2017 by PatriciaDaly Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Buckajo, NSW - 5 Apr 2017 by alirodway
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Bega, NSW - 16 Aug 2019 by Harrisi
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at - 10 Jul 2019 by DonneMunn
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Tarraganda, NSW - 10 May 2019 by Tara
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Bega, NSW - 27 Apr 2019 by Gaymer242
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Yowrie, NSW - 10 Mar 2019 by ozzier2000
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Nelson, NSW - 13 Jun 2018 by RossMannell
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at - 23 May 2018 by RossMannell
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Wallagoot, NSW - 8 May 2018 by RossMannell
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Merimbula, NSW - 24 Apr 2018 by RossMannell
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Kiah, NSW - 12 Jan 2018 by jimm
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Bega, NSW - 3 Jun 2017 by PatriciaDaly
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Buckajo, NSW - 5 Apr 2017 by alirodway

Species information

  • Vespula germanica Scientific name
  • European wasp Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Exotic
  • Non-Invasive
  • Up to 1230.8m Recorded at altitude
  • Machine learning
  • External link More information

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Location information

2,100,066 sightings of 19,119 species in 5,077 locations from 10,189 contributors
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