| Vespula | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| German wasp (Vespula germanica) | |
| 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.
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.
 |
This Hymenoptera-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
