Vespula
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 in North America. Vespula species have a shorter oculomalar space and a more pronounced tendency to nest underground than Dolichovespula.
Notable species
- While most species of this genus inhabit North America, four Vespula species inhabit Europe, namely V. austriaca, V. germanica, V. rufa, and V. vulgaris.
- Two common European species, the German wasp and the common wasp, have established in other countries; both species are now found in New Zealand, Australia, and South America, while the former has also been introduced in South America, and the latter in Southern Africa.
- The eastern yellowjacket and western yellowjacket are native to North America.
Species
Vespula acadica – forest yellowjacketVespula akrei Landolt, 2010Vespula alascensis Packard, 1870 – Alaska yellowjacketVespula arisana – Taiwan yellowjacketVespula atropilosa – prairie yellowjacketVespula austriaca – red cuckoo waspVespula consobrina – blackjacketVespula flaviceps Vespula flavopilosa Jacobson, 1978 – downy yellowjacketVespula germanica – German wasp, German yellowjacketVespula inexspectata Eck, 1991 – volcano yellowjacketVespula infernalis – cuckoo yellowjacketVespula ingrica Birula, 1931Vespula intermedia – northern red-banded yellowjacketVespula kingdonwardi Archer, 1981Vespula koreensis Vespula maculifrons – eastern yellowjacketVespula nursei Archer, 1981Vespula orbata Vespula pensylvanica – western yellowjacketVespula rufa – red waspVespula shidai Ish., Yam., Wagn., 1980Vespula squamosa – southern yellowjacketVespula structor Vespula sulphurea – California yellowjacketVespula vidua – long yellowjacket or widow yellowjacketVespula vulgaris – common wasp, common yellowjacketSee also:
- Paravespula, a subgenus of ''Vespula''