Buzz Buzz! Did you know there are more than one species of yellow jacket? There’s the Eastern, Southern, and Western yellow jackets. These three species have some similarities and differences that I will be going over today. I’ll also be pointing out where each of these species like to nest to hopefully prevent any unfortunate encounters.
Yellow Jackets; Eastern
First up are the Eastern yellow jackets (Vespula maculifrons.) This species of wasp is found in Eastern North America. They often nest underground, making their nests hard to notice until you’re right on top of it. An Eastern yellow jacket queen will begin founding a new colony in the Spring with it reaching its maximum population between October and December. They will be the most aggressive in the later months because food and reproduction begin too slow.
Yellow jackets; Southern
Second on our list of three is the Southern Yellow jacket (Vespula squamose.) Their habitats are found in Eastern North America down through Southern Central America. Above all they are notoriously social wasps, which transitions to aggression in the colder months because food, and reproduction grinds to a halt. Secondly, they have a distinctive yellow pattern around their bodies. However, the queens are a darker orange color. Their nests are subterranean majority of the time.
Yellow jackets; Western
Finally, we have the Western yellow jackets (Vespula pensylvanica.) Their colonies thrive in temperate climates. They nest in the same unnatural areas as the Southern and Eastern yellow jackets. Similarly to the other two species they are about the size of the common honeybee and have a bold yellow and smooth body. Similarly to the other two species the colonies aggression peaks around winter time when the colony’s reproduction and food accumulation begin to dwindle.
In conclusion, we first went over the three prominent yellow jacket species and identified where they like to nest, finally we discussed their nesting cycles, and when they are their most aggressive. I don’t recommend trying to remove a nest on your own as yellow jackets can sting and bite multiple times. Fortunately RH Miller Pest Services has been in the Central Florida for over a quarter of a century. Our process starts with a free estimate. Call our offices today at 407-339-7119 to schedule your free, no obligation inspection and or treatment today!
