Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Vespula squamosa

This is the second spring I’ve seen a queen Southern Yellowjacket in Green-Wood.
The species is parasitic on other Vespula ground yellowjacket species. They typically usurp Eastern Yellowjacket colonies. But, as “facultative temporary social parasites,” they can also found their own colonies as well.
Their northern range is about here in lower New York. On iNaturalist, there are 12 NYC observations. Every borough but the Bronx has them reported. They can be found down to Honduras, making them the mostly southerly of Vespula species. The stripes on the mesoscutum are distinctive, in its range, among the Vespulas.

mthew

2 responses to “Vespula squamosa”

  1. Linda Kuhni

    I am just outside the city of Pittsburgh; Harmony Twp, PA, South of NY.
    I have these at my house! I don’t know how to share a photo here?

    Reply
    1. mthew

      Photos can’t be shared on this system. You can link to an outside site.

      Reply

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