Social Wasps of Britain and Ireland

About this book

Social Wasps of Britain and Ireland is a photo-based identification guide for naturalists and enthusiasts.
- Features multiple colour photographs of each social wasp species in Britain and Ireland
- Straightforward flow chart to key characters to separate species
- Enables reliable identification of adult workers from living specimens in the field (where possible)
- Designed for fieldwork: lightweight, shower-proof and rucksack-sized

Social wasps are familiar yellow-and black striped insects, especially common from mid-summer to autumn. But their identification to species level can be tricky, so they are often under-recorded. Unfortunately, a single top-down view of the wasp is rarely enough for identification. Instead, you need to check the wasp from several different angles. The authors recommend using a specimen tube with a plunger, so you can get a closer look while avoiding stings.

This guide is designed for identifying social wasp workers: the infertile adult females that make up the majority of individual wasps that you will see. It features all nine native species: Common Wasp, German Wasp, Red Wasp, Saxon Wasp, Norwegian Wasp, Tree Wasp, Median Wasp, Cuckoo Wasp and European Hornet. The Asian Hornet, an invasive non-native species, is also included. Carefully chosen photographs show the key identification features, particularly the shape and markings of the head. Accompanying species notes distinguish similar-looking species. Written notes cover wasp life-cycle, feeding and nesting, as well as hints for finding wasps.

This guide is part of the Field Studies Council’s AIDGAP series (Aids to Identification in Difficult Groups of Animals and Plants). Our AIDGAP guides are accessible identification keys, suitable for non-specialists from age 16+. As with all guides in the series, Social Wasps of Britain and Ireland underwent extensive testing before publication by beginners and specialists alike.

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