Vespid sp.
This is a vespid wasp in the family Vespidae. This family is made up of about 5,000 eusocial and solitary wasp species. Most vespids make their nests out of mud and plant fibers and are major pollinators of several plant species. Vespids that produce colonies usually die out in the winter, but have already released new queens that will produce their own colony in the following spring.
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Photograph: © 2016 RKD Peterson
Date of Photograph: 7 August 2016
Location: Montana, Gallatin Co. (45o22'26" N 111o08'54" W)