Vespula maculifrons

Table of Contents

Common Name: Eastern Yellow Jacket

Scientific Classification


Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Vespula
Species: Vespula maculifrons

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated [NE] | (IUCN 3.1)

Identifying Features

The Eastern yellow jacket is 3/4" long with a bold yellow and black body. The wings are dark.

Habitat & Range

These wasps are found throughout the Eastern US in forests and fields.

Behavior

They nest under debris or underground and build a small light brown paper nest. They eat sugar and other insects as well as scavenge meat.

Life Cycle

Queens will build a nest and lay eggs that will grow into her first generation of workers. She feeds and cares for the larave until they undergo metamorphosis and emerge as adults. All following generations are cared for by the workers.

Featured image by James Dake.