Yellowjacket

Scientific Name: Vespula spp.

Order & Family: Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Vespidae

Size: 10 to 16 mm in length

Yellowjacket

Natural Habitat

Common in various habitats, including gardens, parks, and around human structures; often build nests underground or in wall voids.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on sugar-rich foods like nectar and fruit, while larvae are fed protein from insects and spiders hunted by adults.

Behavior Patterns

Highly social insects that live in colonies with a single queen; they are known for being territorial and defensive of their nests, especially in late summer.

Risks & Benefits

Risks include painful stings that can cause allergic reactions in some people; benefits include natural pest control as they hunt many garden pests.

Identified on: 6/22/2026