# Southern Yellowjacket (*vespula squamosa*) The Southern Yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa) is a highly social wasp species known for its distinctive yellow and black markings and often aggressive defensive behavior. Unlike some solitary wasp species, Southern Yellowjackets live in large colonies, constructing elaborate paper nests, often underground or in sheltered cavities. These opportunistic insects play a dual role in their ecosystems, acting as significant predators of other insects, especially pest species, while also scavenging for sugars and proteins. Their complex social structure, with a queen, workers, and drones, allows for efficient resource exploitation and colony defense, making them a conspicuous and sometimes formidable presence in various southern and eastern North American habitats. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Found in various environments, including forests, woodlands, grasslands, agricultural areas, and particularly common in urban and suburban settings where food sources and nesting sites are abundant. ![Southern Yellowjacket](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/449672841/medium.jpg) Photo: Victor Engel, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/449672841) ## Appearance The Southern Yellowjacket is characterized by its bright yellow and black striped abdomen, featuring distinctive triangular black markings on the yellow bands, particularly noticeable on the sides. The thorax is predominantly black with yellow shoulders, and the face is largely yellow with black eyes and antennae. Workers typically measure around 1.0 to 1.7 cm in length, with queens being larger, reaching up to 2.0 cm. They possess two pairs of membranous, yellowish wings that fold longitudinally when at rest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Vespidae - **Genus:** Vespula ## Interesting facts - Colonies can grow quite large, sometimes containing thousands of workers by late summer and fall, which is when they are most noticeable and defensive. - Southern Yellowjacket queens are polygynous, meaning multiple queens can overwinter together and initiate a colony, though often only one dominant queen survives. - Their nests are made of chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva, creating a paper-like material, and are typically subterranean or in dark, protected cavities. - Unlike bees, yellowjackets can sting multiple times because their stingers are not barbed. ## Special abilities - **Efficient Scavenging:** Yellowjackets are highly adaptable foragers, capable of locating and utilizing diverse food sources, from carrion and insect prey to fallen fruit and human discarded foods. This enables their colonies to thrive in varied environments. - **Colonial Defense:** Southern Yellowjackets are fiercely territorial and will aggressively defend their nests, utilizing a painful, venomous sting. This collective defense mechanism is a potent deterrent against predators and perceived threats. - **Pest Control Predation:** While often considered pests themselves, yellowjackets are effective predators of other insects, including caterpillars, flies, and other soft-bodied arthropods, helping to regulate insect populations. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 1-2 cm - **Wingspan:** 2-3 cm - **Weight:** 0.0001-0.0002 kg - **Lifespan:** 0-1 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Incubation:** 25-35 days ## Diet & Feeding Southern Yellowjackets have a varied diet, acting as both predators and scavengers. Adults primarily feed on sugary substances for energy, such as nectar, fruit juices, and honeydew, while also hunting protein-rich prey and scavenging for meat to feed their larvae. - **Age differences:** Adult workers primarily consume carbohydrates for energy, while they hunt and scavenge protein-rich foods (insects, meat) to feed the developing larvae, which require protein for growth. - **Primary Foods:** Nectar, Fruit juices, Honeydew, Flies, Caterpillars, Carrion - **Foraging Method:** Predatory Hunting, Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Striped Skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*) — Skunks are known to dig up yellowjacket nests to eat the protein-rich larvae. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Adults hunt these insects to feed their carnivorous larvae. - **Mutualism:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Yellowjackets collect nectar from various flowering plants for energy, potentially aiding in pollination. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Yellowjacket? Compare the antennae, wings, waist, body hair and legs. Yellow and black stripes show up on bees, wasps and harmless mimics alike. Bee & Wasp Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Southern Yellowjacket? 1-2 cm ### What is Southern Yellowjacket's wingspan? 2-3 cm ### How much does Southern Yellowjacket weigh? 0.0001-0.0002 kg ### How long does Southern Yellowjacket live? 0-1 years ### How fast can Southern Yellowjacket move? 15 km/h ### What does Southern Yellowjacket eat? Southern Yellowjackets have a varied diet, acting as both predators and scavengers. Adults primarily feed on sugary substances for energy, such as nectar, fruit juices, and honeydew, while also hunting protein-rich prey and scavenging for meat to feed their larvae. ### Where is Southern Yellowjacket usually found? Found in various environments, including forests, woodlands, grasslands, agricultural areas, and particularly common in urban and suburban settings where food sources and nesting sites are abundant. ## Where to spot - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Brett Woods Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brett-woods-open-space) — Connecticut, US · Park - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Cleveland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cleveland-park) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-division-of-the-pennsylvania-canal) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Kent Gardens Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kent-gardens-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Southern Yellowjacket](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-yellowjacket) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Southern Yellowjacket: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-yellowjacket)