Dataset on Eusocial wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Vespinae and Polistinae) in European Russia

This dataset presents the results of studies on eusocial wasps conducted in 2019 and 2021-2025 across 16 regions of European Russia. The research focused on preferred habitats, seasonal activity, and the effectiveness of various observation methods for eusocial wasps. A total of 8537 individuals were reliably identified, representing six species of Vespinae and two species of Polistinae (Hymenoptera). The most abundant species were <i>Vespa crabro</i> (45.92 % of all specimens) <i>and Vespula vulgaris</i> (28.4 %). The remaining species accounted for <10 % of the total number of specimens. The rarest species recorded were <i>Vespula rufa</i> (0.8 %) and <i>Polistes dominula</i> (1.5 %). <i>Vespa crabro</i> showed a clear preference for closed ecosystems such as various forest types and forest edges. <i>Vespula vulgaris</i> was more frequently encountered in open habitats such as meadows and forest clearings. <i>Polistes nimpha</i> was most commonly found in meadow ecosystems. The other species did not demonstrate distinct habitat preferences. The largest number of eusocial wasp specimens were captured using beer traps, although these are of limited applicability in forested ecosystems and are difficult to use in open meadows. Yellow pan traps proved to be effective, as they can be deployed on the ground in a wide variety of habitats.