This native yellowjacket is approximately .5 to .75 inch (12-18 mm) in length. Photos 1, 2 and 3 show a queen. She is black and yellow on the face, and mostly black on the thorax. The abdomen is largely yellow with black triangles and black crossbands. The antennae are black, and the legs are yellow. Workers and males are smaller and darker, with more black markings on the abdomen.
These wasps are common and can be seen from spring to fall. They can be seen visiting flowers for nectar or sitting on vegetation almost anywhere in Fontenelle Forest or Neale Woods.
The Eastern Yellowjacket is in the subfamily Vespinae whose members build paper nests of chewed wood and plant fibers. Members of the genus Vespula nest underground. Nests can have as many as 5,000 wasps at the peak. They are mostly beneficial predators, but can be pests at outdoor picnics when they want to share a sweet drink.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Loren Padelford.