Southern Yellowjacket
Vespula squamosa
Southern yellowjackets are social wasps found across the southeastern and eastern United States, often nesting underground or in sheltered cavities. Adults hunt other insects and scavenge meat for their larvae, while also feeding on nectar, fruit juices, and sugary liquids. They are fast, defensive fliers that can sting repeatedly when a nest is threatened. A notable feature of Vespula squamosa is its social parasitism: young queens often take over colonies of other yellowjacket species before producing their own workers.
- Type
- Venom / Wing
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
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- Southern Yellowjacket
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