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Prairie Yellowjacket

Vespula atropilosa.

Description:

This species has been observed with two different marking patterns on the abdomen, one of which closely resembles the Forest Yellowjacket. However, the abdominal markings most commonly seen have mostly yellow coloration, thin black bands with center points and black dots. The Prairie Yellowjacket is restricted to western North America, ranging from central British Columbia south and east through southern Alberta, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, western Montana, Wyoming, Utah, most of Colorado, and northern New Mexico and Arizona. It avoids nesting in truly urban locations in my experience, though nests in yards are apparently not uncommon.

Habitat:

Most Prairie Yellowjacket nests are subterranean, but they have also been found in wall cavities. These are typically smaller colonies, with less than 500 workers. The Prairie Yellowjacket nests preferentially in abandoned rodent burrows. Nests have also been discovered in tree hollows, under steps, and between the walls of houses. One truly aerial nest was found in Pullman, Washington, but this is decidedly an anomaly. The paper combs are surrounded by layers of “envelope,” typically rather coarse as is the case in most subterranean yellowjacket species. V. atropilosa nests are dirtier than most, with the bodies of deceased wasps and other debris incorporated into the paper envelope.`

Notes:

These are not your picnic-harassing, garbage-gathering yellowjackets, either. They have retained their predatory nature and hunt mostly spiders, harvestmen, flies, insect larvae, and true bugs as food for the larvae back in the nest. Adults feed on aphid honeydew and flower nectar to fuel their flight. Prairie Yellowjackets are not a serious stinging hazard unless the nest is disturbed. Because they nest in lawns, this species is more likely to be found near human activity areas. http://www.whyistheanswer.com/prairie_ye...

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1 Comment

nexttogone
nexttogone 11 years ago

Cool looking Yellowjacket. ")

FrancisQuintana
Spotted by
FrancisQuintana

Colorado, USA

Spotted on Jun 14, 2012
Submitted on Nov 5, 2012

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