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Yellow Jacket

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Vespula vulgaris
Yellow Jacket

Range

They are found all over North America.

Habitat

They nest near orchards, fields and on the edge of forests. Their nests are often under the eaves of buildings, in a rock wall or rock pile or underground near a fruit tree or garden.

Body Traits

They are less than an inch long with a smooth black and yellow-banded body. They have dark antennae and 2 pairs of wings.

Habits

They sting badly when bothered. They can sting over and over. They will attack beehives for their honey.

Diet

They eat other insects, plant nectar, fruit, and food left out by humans.

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

The female mates in late summer and then hibernates for the winter. The rest of the colony dies out. Then in the spring, she builds a nest on a building, in a rock wall or underground and lays her eggs.

Yellow Jacket

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Vespula
Species: V. vulgaris

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