Common Asiatic Yellowjacket (Vespula flaviceps) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Common Asiatic Yellowjacket is a small, black wasp with pale markings, native to East Asia. It usually builds its nest underground and can sting if the nest is disturbed. It is not one of the yellowjackets normally encountered in the United States.

Appearance

Appearance: Workers are about 0.4–0.5 in (10–12 mm) long, with a mostly black body and pale bands and spots.

Look-alikes

Eastern yellowjacketVespula maculifrons

Eastern yellowjackets (Vespula maculifrons) have yellow and black markings, while this Asian species has white or pale markings on black. In the eastern United States, location favors the eastern yellowjacket; use clear face and abdomen photos for a closer check.

Why they get mixed upBoth are small, black-and-pale Vespula wasps that usually nest underground.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: forests
woodland edges
underground nest sites
Range: The species occurs in East Asia, including Korea and Japan. It is not known as a regular part of the U.S. yellowjacket fauna.
Preferred conditions: Colonies usually occupy a sheltered cavity underground.

Behavior

Diet: In a Korean apiary, workers were observed taking honey from an abandoned comb and carrying pieces of a dead honey bee.
Activity: Queens appear in spring, and colony activity continues through fall in temperate East Asia.
Social life: It is a with a queen and many workers sharing one nest.
Overwintering: The dies out, while newly mated queens overwinter alone.

Life cycle

Breeding season: A queen starts a new nest in spring, workers enlarge it through summer, and new queens and males appear late in the season.
Nest: The nest is made of paper-like plant fibers and is usually hidden below ground.

Cautions

Cautions: It can sting when its nest is disturbed.

Name and classification

About the name: Common Asian Yellowjacket is another name for this species.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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