Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Harmful Effects
Icon about
Beneficial Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Eastern Yellow Jacket

Eastern Yellow Jacket

Vespula maculifrons

A species of Ground yellowjackets

The eastern Yellow Jacket (Vespula maculifrons) is a family-oriented species. They participate in cooperative "brood care," meaning that everyone contributes to the wellbeing of the young. They are also known to aggressively defend their nest to anyone approaching. They inflict painful stings, so its best to consult a professional if they invade your living space. They have been known to invade public spaces and buildings.

Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Animals
Toxic to Animals
Does the Eastern Yellow Jacket sting humans?
Human Stinging
General Info About Eastern Yellow Jacket
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Colors
Black
Yellow
Habitat
forest; creek bank; urban and suburban area
Adult Food Sources
Nectar, fruits, insects, human garbage, tree sap
Larva Food Source
Caterpillars, flies, beetles, aphids, spiders
Biting/stinging
The Eastern Yellow Jacket may bite humans actively. Please stay away from it.
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
The Eastern Yellow Jacket has special defensive behaviors that can trigger an allergic reaction. If there are serious reactions, seek IMMEDIATE medical attention.
Venomous
The Eastern Yellow Jacket can induce toxic reactions varying in severity. Nevertheless, these toxins primarily target their prey and predators and are usually not fatal to humans.
Phytophagous
The Eastern Yellow Jacket feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
The Eastern Yellow Jacket typically preys on other arthropods and does not directly affect plants.
Biting animal or pet
Yes
Mouthparts Type
Chewing-lapping mouthparts
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of Eastern Yellow Jacket
It is commonly found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, specifically in North America.
Rectangle
Distribution Area of Eastern Yellow Jacket
North America
Rectangle
Appearance of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Vespula maculifrons can be differentiated from other wasp species due to its smaller size and abdominal pattern. The most recognizable features of Vespula maculifrons are the black and yellow lines on the head, thorax, and abdomen. While the body is curved and wider than the head, the abdomen narrows at its attachment to the thorax, which is thinner than the abdomen. Individuals of this species range in size from 1.3 - 1.6 cm. The queens are the largest, followed by the males, and then the workers.
ImageImageImageImageImage

How to Identify Eastern Yellow Jacket?

Rectangle
Life Cycle of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Egg The development of eastern Yellow Jacket starts with the egg stage. The eggs are typically oval and laid in clusters. They lack mobility and sensory organs, being solely dependent on the environment for temperature regulation and the mother or workers for protection.
Larva In the larval stage, the eastern Yellow Jacket is worm-like, lacking wings and complex eyes. It has a voracious appetite for growth and molts several times, increasing in size with each molt. It is predominantly focused on feeding and growth.
Pupal The pupa of eastern Yellow Jacket is a non-feeding stage where transformation occurs within a cocoon. The exterior may appear idle, but internally significant changes are happening: developing wings, compound eyes, and adult body segmentation.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult eastern Yellow Jacket’s development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.
Rectangle
Predators of Adult Eastern Yellow Jacket
Birds, spiders, mantis, dragonflies, frogs, bats
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Eastern Yellow Jacket
The eastern Yellow Jacket's ability to chew through wood to build their nests is a testament to their jaw strength and architectural skills.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Tips for Finding Eastern Yellow Jacket
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Urban and Suburban Areas
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Urban and Suburban Areas, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas
Rectangle
How Can You Attract Eastern Yellow Jacket
For trapping eastern Yellow Jacket, sweet baits, such as sugar water, fruit juices, or sodas, are effective as eastern Yellow Jacket are attracted to sugary substances. Protein-rich baits, like fish or meat, can also be used during the early spring when eastern Yellow Jacket queens are searching for food to establish new colonies.
Rectangle
Habitat Preferences of Eastern Yellow Jacket Through Different Life Stages
The egg stage of eastern Yellow Jacket is typically located in concealed paper-like nests built by adult females, often in underground cavities or occasionally in aerial locations like building eaves. Larvae develop within these protective nests, feeding on insects provided by worker wasps. Pupae also remain in the nest, emerging as adults. To find these stages, one would search for nests in sheltered, undisturbed areas near sources of food. Adult eastern Yellow Jacket forage in various environments, such as gardens, forests, and meadows, where they seek nectar, insects, and other sources of sustenance. Observing flowering plants, refuse areas, and food sources would likely reveal the adults' presence.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Eastern Yellow Jacket at Different Life Stages
Adult To find a eastern Yellow Jacket queen, look for solitary individuals in early spring, searching for nesting sites. Check in soil cavities, wall voids, or other sheltered spots where a queen might start a colony.
Eastern Yellow Jacket workers can be found foraging for food. Search flowers, garbage bins, or outdoor eating areas where they may gather food to bring back to the nest.
To find eastern Yellow Jacket nests, listen for the sound of an active colony and look for worker eastern Yellow Jacket entering and exiting an opening. Eastern Yellow Jacket nests can be located in the ground, in voids in buildings, or in vegetation.
Are Eastern Yellow Jacket harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free

The eastern Yellow Jacket can cause toxic reactions with a wide range of severity. However, the toxins are typically targeted at their prey and predators. They are usually not fatal to humans.

Rectangle

Are Eastern Yellow Jacket harmful to humans?

The female wasp has a long thick stinger connected to the poison gland. The main components of the venom are some alkaline substances, including histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, hyaluronidase, etc. When it is stung, it will shoot venom into the skin of the person, but the sting needle is not left in the leather suit. After a person is stung by a wasp, the stinged skin will immediately become red, swollen and painful, even with petechiae and skin necrosis. When the eye is stung, it will cause severe pain, tearing, redness and swelling, and may also cause corneal ulcers. In addition, systemic symptoms include dizziness, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, restlessness, and increased blood pressure. The above symptoms usually disappear within a few hours to several days. In severe cases, drowsiness, systemic edema, oliguria, coma, hemolysis, myocarditis, hepatitis, acute renal failure and shock. Some people allergic to bee venom can manifest as urticaria, anaphylactic shock, etc.
Harmful Effects of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Reveal the harmful impacts of diverse insects
Explore the dangers of insects related to toxicity, lethality, human biting, human stinging, pathogenicity, hematophagy, allergenicity, parasitism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Icon toxic for
Toxic to Humans
Icon toxic for
Toxic to Animals
Icon toxic for
Human Stinging
Rectangle
Toxic to Humans

Eastern Yellow Jacket possesses a venomous sting used in defense and predation. The venom contains neurotoxins that can cause pain, swelling, and redness in humans. While usually mild, the sting can lead to severe complications, including intense pain, fever, and, in rare cases, tissue damage.

Rectangle
Toxic to Animals

Eastern Yellow Jacket typically poisons other animals through bites delivered by its fangs. This species is known for causing mild toxicity, which can result in discomfort or mild symptoms in humans, domestic pets like dogs and cats, as well as small mammals such as rodents. The adult stage of eastern Yellow Jacket possesses venom that it uses defensively or when hunting prey, leading to varying reactions depending on the animal affected.

Rectangle
Does the Eastern Yellow Jacket sting humans?

Eastern Yellow Jacket typically sting humans in defense of their nests or when threatened. Stinging involves injecting venom through a barbless stinger, allowing multiple stings without self-harm. Females are the primary stingers as males lack stingers. Stings result in pain, swelling, and allergic reactions in humans but have no adverse impact on eastern Yellow Jacket.

More Effects of Eastern Yellow Jacket

Beneficial Effects of Eastern Yellow Jacket
Discover the hidden benefits of insects
Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
Download the App for Free
Pollinator
Pollinator
Pollination Behavior Reason
Eat Pollen Or Nectar
Eastern Yellow Jacket assists in plant pollination primarily by searching for food. Attracted by the vivid colors and enticing scents of flowers, they inadvertently collect pollen on their bodies while feeding on nectar and pollen. As they move from flower to flower, they transfer pollen, facilitating the fertilization of plants.
Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
More Insects that are Similar to Eastern Yellow Jacket
Western paper wasp
Western paper wasp

The western paper wasp (Mischocyttarus flavitarsis) either live in forests close to rivers or on the underside of rooves near humans. Contrary to what you may believe, they actually don't like to sting as a first option. Instead, they would rather headbutt the threatening presence away. They are omnivores that feed on everything from other insects to nectar to animal corpses.

Read More
Arrow
Yellow paper wasp
Yellow paper wasp

Ropalidia romandi is unique for its overall yellow color, with dark brown markings on its thorax and abdomen. Measuring around 1.2 cm, Ropalidia romandi is considered small. The first segment of the abdomen in Ropalidia is narrower than the following segments. Ropalidia romandi's front wings fold lengthwise when resting, which is a common characteristic of paper wasps.

Read More
Arrow
Ropalidia sumatrae
Ropalidia sumatrae

Renowned for its eusocial lifestyle, ropalidia sumatrae constructs intricate nests out of fibrous plant material, meticulously chewed and shaped with their strong mandibles. Primarily inhabiting the lush territories of the Southeast Asian rainforests, these creatures display a fascinating division of labor among nest mates, which is pivotal for their survival and efficiency.

Read More
Arrow
European potter wasp
European potter wasp

The European potter wasp or European tube wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella) is a species of potter wasp. As an imago (adult), the female collects as many as 20 caterpillars for each nest, which consists of a single cell. Her larval offspring then feed on these inside the nest, which is sealed with mud arranged by her. As adults, they eat nectar and aphid honeydew. Males cannot sting, and the sting of a female is not painful. They can be found on windows, foraging for nectar on flowers, or searching out small cracks or holes in which to nest.

Read More
Arrow
Smiling mason wasp
Smiling mason wasp

The Ancistrocerus campestris is primarily identified with the angry-looking smiley face on its back. When you aren't getting into a scowling match with their back, you may be admiring the unique nests that these types of insects make. The variety of nests puts them in a group of other wasps known "potter wasps." 

Read More
Arrow
Bramble mason wasp
Bramble mason wasp

Bramble mason wasp differentiate themselves by their ability to mason cobblestone-like nests using pebbles. Unlike many other insects, their breeding sees the female solitary, constructing its offspring's dwelling in hollow structures. Additionally, these wasps play a critical role in environments, acting as efficient pollinators and aiding plant propagation. Furthermore, bramble mason wasp, as predators, help manage arachnid populations, providing an element of natural pest control.

Read More
Arrow
Ancistrocerus unifasciatus
Ancistrocerus unifasciatus

Read More
Arrow
Oriental hornet
Oriental hornet

The oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is a polyphagous insect (the adults are vegetarian and the larvae eat animal protein) that communicates with sound vibrations underground. Otherwise, they are considered a pest to honey bees, as they attack them in order to steal honey and other proteins. While they are jerks to others, their internal community has everyone working for the good of the colony.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow