The Dolichovespula sylvestris also known as the “tree wasp” is the species eusocial wasp in the family Vespidae, found in the temperate regions of Eurasia, particularly in western Europe.
Despite being called the tree wasp, it builds both aerial and underground paper nests and can be found in rural and urban habitats.
The tree wasp is a medium-sized wasp that has yellow and black stripes and a black dot in the centre of its clypeus.
It is most common to see the tree wasp between May and September, it has A 3.5-month colony cycle.
Tree wasp carries out worker policing and has a haplodiploid sex-determination system.
This results in a high level of relatedness within the colony and the workers will take over all of the foragings from the queen once the primary workers reach adulthood.
Workers typically forage for other insects, the nectar of plants and wood to digest for building the nest.
The tree wasp can also be a victim of the nest parasite Dolichovespula omissa which lays eggs in their nest.
They also are prone to be attacked by other parasites including roundworms.
The tree wasp was first classified in 1763 by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, a naturalist and a physician who is also known for classifying many other species.