Downy Yellowjacket
ExploreInsects
Downy Yellowjacket
Vespula flavopilosa
The Downy Yellowjacket is a small, buzzing insect known for its bright yellow and black stripes. They live in nests and can often be seen flying around flowers and food during the summer.
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Downy Yellowjacket is a medium-sized wasp with striking yellow and black bands across its abdomen. It has a distinctive black anchor-shaped marking on its yellow face and fine, yellowish hairs that give it a slightly fuzzy appearance, differentiating it from other smooth-bodied wasps.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyVespidaeGenusVespula
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Downy Yellowjackets help control garden pests by hunting other insects.
Only the queen yellowjacket survives winter to start a new colony in spring!
These tiny wasps build amazing paper nests by chewing up wood fibers!
They sometimes try to share your sweet picnic drinks and sugary snacks!
Special abilities
Ability
Stinging Defense
Downy Yellowjacket can deliver a painful sting because of a barbed stinger that helps them defend their nest.
Ability
Colony Communication
Downy Yellowjacket has special chemical signals, called pheromones, that help them alert the colony to danger or food.
Ability
Paper Architect
Downy Yellowjacket can chew wood fibers into pulp that helps them build intricate, multi-layered paper nests.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 20-35 mm
- Size
- 10-17 mm
- Lifespan
- 15-45 days
- Flight Speed
- 20 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
- Colony Size
- 5000
Diet & Feeding
They eat both sweet nectar for energy and protein-rich insects to feed their young.
Age differences: Larvae are fed chewed up insects, while adults primarily consume sugary liquids.
Primary Foods
- nectar
- fruit sap
- flies
- caterpillars
- spiders
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Digs up nests to eat larvae and adult wasps.
hunts
Cabbage White Butterfly
Pieris rapae
Hunts caterpillars to feed its growing young in the nest.
pollinates
Canada Goldenrod
Solidago canadensis
Visits flowers for nectar, incidentally transferring pollen.
Traits
Striped
Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Omnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Be careful around yellowjackets; they can sting if they feel threatened.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Downy Yellowjacket's wingspan?
20-35 mm
How big is Downy Yellowjacket?
10-17 mm
How long does Downy Yellowjacket live?
15-45 days
How fast can Downy Yellowjacket fly?
20 km/h
What does Downy Yellowjacket eat?
They eat both sweet nectar for energy and protein-rich insects to feed their young.
Where is Downy Yellowjacket usually found?
Urban areas
How does Downy Yellowjacket hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Downy Yellowjacket have?
6
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