Yellowjacket Wasp

IDENTIFY

FIRST AID

SITE MAP

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* body smooth

* body black and yellow

* legs yellow

* body tapering, wasp-waisted

* face black & yellow

* abdomen tapering at rear end

* wings almost as long as body

YELLOWJACKET WASP

The Yellowjacket is a type of wasp that builds medium-sized paper nests in trees and bushes or under ground.

Behavior:

Yellowjacket wasps are primarily carnivores that feed on insects or carrion. They also feed on any sweet liquids they can find. In late summer when their population numbers are high, they can be a nuisance at picnics, barbecues and sidewalk cafes, where they are attracted by meat and sugary drinks.

They are relatively aggressive and may sting, even away from the nest, if swatted or brushed away vigorously.

Life Cycle:

The queen is the only member of the colony to overwinter. She emerges from hibernation in Spring and begins to hunt for food and build a nest. As she rears more and more workers, eventually they take on the task of foraging for food, expanding the nest and rearing the young. All workers die with the first early frosts and only the queen seeks a place to hibernate for the winter.

Nest Type:

Nests may be built hanging in trees or other elevated structures, or in burrows under ground. The young are reared in hexagonal cells arranged in horizontal combs and made of a papery material that the wasps produce by chewing wood fibers. The combs are enclosed within a spherical paper envelope when the nest is above-ground, but may be left exposed in underground burrows.

Control:

These wasps develop large populations and sting readily, so summer nest removal is best left to the professional. Wasp numbers can be kept down by ensuring that all garbage is tightly covered. Nests can be safely destroyed during the winter.

Yellowjacket - top view.

Very small Yellowjacket nest under construction by the queen.