The 'median wasp' is a very large social species, most individuals being second only to the hornet, Vespa crabro, in size. Queens of D. media also resemble V. crabro in their mainly yellowish-orange coloration. The gasters of many workers are very dark, with narrow yellow bands. Most colonies are rather docile; others seem to be very aggressive, attacking with little provocation (Welch & Irwin, 1995).
Specimens of the 'Saxon wasp', the second species of social wasp to have recently colonised England, are more difficult to identify in the field than its congener D. media. It is a very close relative of D. norwegica but lacks the pair of red spots on the second gastral tergum (but beware, these markings are also absent in some D. norwegica).
Ectemnius cavifrons is one of the largest and most common species of its genus in Britain.
See Oxybelus uniglumis for general notes on this species.
This is a very close relative of Ammophila sabulosa; in many of its sites it flies with its congener, and may be locally abundant.
This is a conspicuous and relatively large solitary species.
This species is a very close relative of C. ruficornis and care is necessary to distinguish between them, particularly when identifying males.