The German wasp is about 13 mm (0.5 in) long, has a mass of 74.1 ± 9.6 mg, and has typical wasp colours of black and yellow.
It is very similar to the common wasp (V. vulgaris), but unlike the common wasp, has three tiny black dots on the clypeus.
To further complicate the issue this only applies to workers.
 It is best practise to first work out if your wasp is a worker, queen or drone before separating it into vulgaris vs germania... German wasps also have black dots on their abdomens, while the common wasp's analogous markings are fused with the black rings above them, forming a different pattern.
However, the identification of a wasp as V. vulgaris may be difficult because the normally unbroken black mark on its clypeus can sometimes appear broken, making it look extremely similar to V. germanica.

Further detailed information on how to separate germanica from vulgaris can be found on a guide to Vespula in NZ.

Nest identification:
germania = soft grey paper.

vulgaris = brittle tan paper.
The German wasp is about 13 mm (0.5 in) long, has a mass of 74.1 ± 9.6 mg, and has typical wasp colours of black and yellow. It is very similar to the common wasp (V. vulgaris), but unlike the common wasp, has three tiny black dots on the clypeus. To further complicate the issue this only applies to workers.  It is best practise to first work out if your wasp is a worker, queen or drone before separating it into vulgaris vs germania... German wasps also have black dots on their abdomens, while the common wasp's analogous markings are fused with the black rings above them, forming a different pattern. However, the identification of a wasp as V. vulgaris may be difficult because the normally unbroken black mark on its clypeus can sometimes appear broken, making it look extremely similar to V. germanica.
Further detailed information on how to separate germanica from vulgaris can be found on a guide to Vespula in NZ.
Nest identification:
germania = soft grey paper.
vulgaris = brittle tan paper.
Vespula germanica