Vespidae - Social wasps
All images on this website have been taken in Leicestershire and Rutland by NatureSpot members. We welcome new contributions - just register and use the Submit Records form to post your photos. Click on any image below to visit the species page. The RED / AMBER / GREEN dots indicate how easy it is to identify the species - see our Identification Difficulty page for more information. A coloured rating followed by an exclamation mark denotes that different ID difficulties apply to either males and females or to the larvae - see the species page for more detail.
Bees, Wasps, Ants
Bees, wasps and ants are all part of an insect order called Hymenoptera. It is a huge group with many species and a diverse range of forms. The name hymenoptera means 'membrane wings'. A typical hymenopteran has 2 pairs of wings though they are coupled together with tiny hooks so appear as 1 pair.
Many members of this group are difficult or impossible to identify from field images. Make sure that your images include the diagnostic features needed to make a definitive identification.
Vespidae - Social wasps
An excellent guide to identifying social wasps has been produced by Eakring Birds. Though titled the social wasps of Nottinghamshire, the species are the same as those found in Leicestershire and Rutland.
