Vespula

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Vespula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Vespidae Subfamily: Vespinae Genus: Vespula
Species
23 species

Vespula is a small genus of social wasps, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Along with members of their sister genus Dolichovespula, they are collectively known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow-jackets) in North America. Vespula species have a shorter oculo-malar space (shown in the figure below) and a more pronounced tendency to nest underground than Dolichovespula.

[edit] Notable species

• Two of the common European species (the German wasp, Vespula germanica and the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris) have been established in North America, southern Africa, New Zealand, and eastern Australia.

• The Eastern Yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons, and Western Yellowjacket, Vespula pensylvanica, are native to North america.