[1] It lives as a social parasite by letting colonies of Dolichovespula sylvestris raise their young.

The males can only be distinguished from the other species of the genus Dolichovespula by details of the genital capsule.

In other languages common names exist for the species that highlight the social parasitism lifestyle by referencing the cuckoo, which is famous for this behaviour.

The German name "Waldkuckuckswespe" and Dutch "Boskoekoekswesp" both translate to "forest cuckoo wasp".

In Swedish "Skogssnyltgeting", and Norwegian "Skoggjøkveps" refer to similar concepts.