http://www.ck12.org Chapter 14. Understanding Biodiversity: Animals: Invertebrates
14.7 Vespula pensylvanica: Yellowjacket Wasp
Common Name
- Yellowjacket Wasp
- Western Yellowjacket
Description
A yellowjacket wasp is 12 mm (0.75 in.) long. They appear black and yellow, or black and white. The wasp is
equipped with a stinger located on the abdomen, and they have antennas on their head. Yellowjacket wasps have
six legs, each one as useful as the next. Four wings attached to the wasp’s back enable it to swing easily through
obstacles, such as humans, cars, bikes, trees, and more. They may build their nests close to humans, but most
colonies only stay active one year. Yellowjacket wasps have been symbols all the way back to their discovery. For
example, the yellowjacket is the most popular mascot of Georgia Tech, where his name is Buzz. Be careful about
handling dead wasps, because they can still sting once deceased, but only for a certain amount of time.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Family: Vespidae
- Genus:Vespula
- Species:Vespula pensylvanica
Habitat
Yellowjackets range across North America. The yellowjacket can live in lawns, the base of tree shrubs, attics, the
walls of houses, and storage buildings. The wasp is able to live above and below the ground, and tends to live around
meadows, as well as the edge of forests. All yellowjackets live in either colonies, nests suspended from trees, or on
the corners of buildings. They can be seen during the late spring, summer, and the early fall. Their nest is made of
paper, which is gathered off trees. They then mix it with their saliva and use it to build the nest. Underground nests
can be destroyed due to flooding.
Cell Biology
A cell is the tiniest structural and functional part of an organism. New cells come from existing cells. Yellowjacket
cells are so small that you can’t see them without the help of a microscope, and to be able to see the tiny structures
that roam inside of the cells, you need another special type of microscope, an electron microscope. Then you are
ready to explore the inside of a cell. Each individual cell in a yellow jacket’s body is made for a certain task. For