Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#36501
Western Yellowjacket - male - Vespula pensylvanica - male

Western Yellowjacket - male - Vespula pensylvanica - Male
Rock Canyon, Utah County, Utah, USA
November 2, 2005
Size: 3/4 inch?
I checked through the photos and thought this was a vespula pensylvanica (western yellowjacket). Then I noticed another photo indicating that a western yellowjacket's eyes should be surrounded in yellow. This one doesn't look as if it has that. Help, please

Images of this individual: tag all
Western Yellowjacket - male - Vespula pensylvanica - male Yellowjacket - Vespula pensylvanica

Male of Vespula pensylvanica
Yes, I have seen other males of Vespula pensylvanica in which the rings are either rudimentary or missing. I have never seen a worker or queen lacking this ring or "eye loop".

Possibly western yellowjacket male
Male western yellowjackets don't always have the yellow eye ring that females (queens and workers) do. The elongated antennae and 7-segmented abdomen indicate this is a male, and the marking on the first abdominal tergite and the location (Utah) do point to Vespula pensylvanica. It could also be a melanic form of the German yellowjacket, but I think western is more likely from the location.

 
Moved to
species page based on your ID; also included in "Key"

 
Western Yellowjacket
Thanks, all.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.