Common name : Eastern yellow jacket
Scientific name : Vespula maculifrons
Family : Vespidae
Native to : North America
Interesting fact : The Eastern yellow jacket receives its scientific name from the Latin words ‘macula’ (meaning spot) and ‘frons’ (meaning forehead).
Smaller than other wasps in size, the Eastern yellow jacket ranges in size from 12.5-15.9 mm. The yellow jacket creates its nest in varying habitats, ranging form hardwood forests and creek banks to gardens and urban areas. The nests are created by the queen and the workers, by chewing wood and spitting it out and then mixing this chewed-up wood with saliva to form the first hexagonal cell with other cells added to the sides. Their diet varies from dead insects, to live arthropods, fruits, nectar and honeydew.
