Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Register
·
Log In
Home
Guide
ID Request
Recent
Frass
Forums
Donate
Help
Clickable Guide
Calendar
Upcoming Events
Registration
is open for the
2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho
July 24-27
Moth submissions
from
National Moth Week 2023
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico
, July 20-24
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana
, April 28-May 2
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2019 gathering in Louisiana
, July 25-27
Photos of
insects
and
people
from the
2018 gathering in Virginia
, July 27-29
Previous events
Taxonomy
Browse
Info
Images
Links
Books
Data
Home
» Guide »
Arthropods (Arthropoda)
»
Hexapods (Hexapoda)
»
Insects (Insecta)
»
Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera)
»
Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps
»
Vespoidea
»
Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies (Vespidae)
»
Hornets and Yellowjackets (Vespinae)
»
Ground Yellowjackets (Vespula)
»
Forest Yellowjacket (Vespula acadica)
Photo#31027
Copyright © 2005
tom murray
Forest Yellowjacket worker -
Vespula acadica
-
Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
September 8, 2005
Images of this individual:
tag all
tag
·
login
or
register
to post comments
Contributed by
tom murray
on 9 September, 2005 - 8:03pm
Last updated 14 October, 2008 - 8:34am
Right
Nice shots of a worker of the Forest Yellowjacket worker, Vespula acadica.
…
Richard Vernier
, 10 September, 2005 - 10:40am
login
or
register
to post comments
This species apparently has a
This species apparently has a reputation of being very aggressive when disturbed at the nest, even though it is one of the rarely-encountered species. Nearly every web page on yellowjackets has a special note about this species-"very aggressive" etc.
Can anyone vouch for this or know why this is-after all it has small colonies compared to the
vulgaris
species group yellowjackets.
…
Andy Wehrle
, 12 September, 2005 - 9:54pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Vespula acadica
I have had at least a half-dozen encounters with this critter.
These are without doubt the most aggressive, persistent, nasty bugs I have ever had the great displeasure of barely seeing (other than their crushed body parts subsequent to my slapping at them after stinging me). I have been stung standing dead still, 20' away from a nest at 8:00 on a cool morning. There was no warning, I just felt the hit slamming into my neck. Once they're after you it's war. My poor shepherd dog released seven of them from her coat after 150 yards back to and inside the house. My wife got them into her panties inside her pants. I've been stung over two feet inside four layers of clothing including a full length net/jacket.
Whoever took this photo was either very brave, a total fool, or wearing full protective gear. My guess is that this particular bug may have been injured or unwell in some respect or far from home to be sitting still for that long. They are unusually active for yellowjackets.
…
Wildergarten
, 5 July, 2012 - 2:37pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Not a total fool (usually)
I too have been stung while standing still 20 feet from a yellow jacket nest, but get these wasps away from the nest and they don't take any notice of you. This picture and a few others of Forest Yellow jackets were taken on or near nectaring sites.
On the other hand, I've heard about how nasty Bald-faced Hornets can be, but I've photographed a nest with workers coming and going from a foot away without incident.
…
tom murray
, 5 July, 2012 - 7:24pm
login
or
register
to post comments
Comment viewing options
Flat list - collapsed
Flat list - expanded
Threaded list - collapsed
Threaded list - expanded
Date - newest first
Date - oldest first
10 comments per page
30 comments per page
50 comments per page
70 comments per page
90 comments per page
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.