Yellow Jacket
Vespula spp., Dolichovespula spp
You may think you are protected from yellow jackets inside your home, but the fact of the matter is that they are looking for the same protection. They typically build their nests in trees and inside human-made structures. While the yellow jacket is aggressive they serve some good purposes as they are important predators of insects.
RISK LEVEL:
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
Risk is defined as how much damage each pest can be to you, your family, or your home
- May notice nests in cracks or openings to your home.
- Nests are also often found in trees.
- May find a new colony swarming around an old nest.
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| Class: | Order: | Family: | |
| Insecta | Hymenoptera | Vespidae | |
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| Size: | Yellowjacket adult workers are 3/8-5/8 in (10-16 mm) long, depending on species; queens are 25% longer. |
| Color: | Abdomen usually has yellow and black bands, but some species are white and black, and two northern species have red markings. |
| Characteristics: | Wings are folded lengthwise when the yellowjacket is at rest. |
| Geographic Range: | All around the world; 16 species in the United States |
| Food: | Insects and nectar |
| Biology: | Yellowjackets are social insects that live in colonies. Each colony has a queen that lays the eggs, female workers that do not reproduce, and males that come forth in late summer, being reared in the same cells that were earlier used for the workers. Larger cells for rearing queens are built at the end of the season. Mating occurs in fall after newly emerged queens and males leave the nest. Only queens who have mated hibernate and live through the winter. The past season's queen who built the nest, as well as the workers and the males, all die. |
Prevention Tips For
Stinging Insects
Stinging Insects
- Seal any cracks or openings to the home (to prevent colonization/nesting)
- Clean up any syrupy or sweet spills immediately around house
- Keep lids tight on trash cans
- For carpenter bees, keep home exterior well painted and or sealed
- Inspect the exterior of home for bee activity
- Remove old nests
It only takes a few minutes to start protecting your home today.
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