Eastern Yellowjacket

The eastern yellowjacket or eastern yellow jacket is a wasp found in eastern North America. Although most of their nests are subterranean, they are often considered a pest due to their nesting in recreational areas and buildings. This yellow jacket is a social insect, living in colonies of hundreds to thousands of individuals. Along with their subfamily, Vespinae, this species demonstrates supportive parental care for offspring, separation of reproductive and sterile castes, and overlapping generations. They aggressively defend their hives from threats and are known to inflict painful stings. Scientific Name: Vespula maculifrons Range: Eastern North America Size: 12–16 mm Status: Common ID Notes: Black-and-yellow striped abdomen with distinctive 'anchor' or arrow-shaped black mark on first segment. Behavior / Notes: Builds large underground nests — disturbed ground nests are a major hazard. Aggressive defenders, repeated stingers.