Vespula

Vespula is a genus of social wasps in the family Vespidae. Members of this genus are commonly known as yellowjackets in many regions. They are medium-sized wasps with distinctive black and yellow markings, though some species exhibit variations in color and pattern. Like other vespoid wasps, they live in colonies organized around a queen and workers.

Colonies in temperate zones are usually annual. A fertilized queen overwinters in a sheltered location and starts a new nest in spring. Nests are constructed from a papery pulp produced by chewing wood fibers, forming an enclosed envelope around a central comb of hexagonal cells. Nests are often located in cavities, such as hollow trees, rock crevices, or man-made structures, and some are subterranean.

Adults feed on nectar, fruit, and other sugary liquids, while larvae are provisioned with chewed insects and other protein sources. Vespula wasps are predatory on other arthropods and can contribute to pest control, though their colonies can be aggressive when provoked and stings can be painful and potentially dangerous for allergic individuals.

The genus includes several well-known species, such as Vespula vulgaris (European yellowjacket) and Vespula germanica (German wasp), and North American species like Vespula pensylvanica (yellowjacket) and Vespula maculifrons (eastern yellowjacket). Some species have become established outside their native ranges, where they may interact with local ecosystems and compete with native species. The term yellowjacket is often used to refer to Vespula in North America, while other groups of large wasps are called hornets.