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Downy Yellowjacket (Vespula flavopilosa) Several of you know how terrified I am of yellow jackets after multiple nasty encounters with them (and having bad reactions to their stings). I&#039;m slowly trying to expose myself to them (with a lot of caution) and learn more about them as well.<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/100016/downy_yellowjacket_vespula_flavopilosa.html" title="Downy Yellowjacket (Vespula flavopilosa)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3231/100016_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=YjiyJlLvP5cwdAzvzMtd2EqmZQY%3D" width="200" height="200" alt="Downy Yellowjacket (Vespula flavopilosa) Not the best shot, but you can see the &quot;downy&quot; body in this shot really well.<br /> <br /> Several of you know how terrified I am of yellow jackets after multiple nasty encounters with them (and having bad reactions to their stings). I&#039;m slowly trying to expose myself to them (with a lot of caution) and learn more about them as well.<br /> <br /> This individual was eating the head of a Luna moth corpse on our dirt road (at the edge of a dense mixed forest). <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/100015/downy_yellowjacket_vespula_flavopilosa.html<br /> <br /> Some interesting information from BugGuide:<br /> &quot;but so far all known data point to the fact that the species is probably not capable of founding their own colonies. Lone queens during spring will search out young colonies of V. maculifrons or V. alascensis to usurp (Social Parasitism). MacDonald et al. (1980) considered V. flavopilosa to be a facultative temporary social parasite of V. maculifrons and V. alascensis (as V. vulgaris) based on five mixed colonies from across the range of the species.&quot; Geotagged,United States,Vespula flavopilosa" /></a></figure><br /> <br /> This individual was eating the head of a Luna moth corpse on our dirt road (at the edge of a dense mixed forest).<br /> <br /> <br /> Some interesting information from BugGuide:<br /> &quot;but so far all known data point to the fact that the species is probably not capable of founding their own colonies. Lone queens during spring will search out young colonies of V. maculifrons or V. alascensis to usurp (Social Parasitism). MacDonald et al. (1980) considered V. flavopilosa to be a facultative temporary social parasite of V. maculifrons and V. alascensis (as V. vulgaris) based on five mixed colonies from across the range of the species.&quot; Geotagged,Summer,United States,Vespula flavopilosa Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Downy Yellowjacket (Vespula flavopilosa)

Several of you know how terrified I am of yellow jackets after multiple nasty encounters with them (and having bad reactions to their stings). I'm slowly trying to expose myself to them (with a lot of caution) and learn more about them as well.

Downy Yellowjacket (Vespula flavopilosa) Not the best shot, but you can see the "downy" body in this shot really well.<br /> <br /> Several of you know how terrified I am of yellow jackets after multiple nasty encounters with them (and having bad reactions to their stings). I'm slowly trying to expose myself to them (with a lot of caution) and learn more about them as well.<br /> <br /> This individual was eating the head of a Luna moth corpse on our dirt road (at the edge of a dense mixed forest). <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/100015/downy_yellowjacket_vespula_flavopilosa.html<br /> <br /> Some interesting information from BugGuide:<br /> "but so far all known data point to the fact that the species is probably not capable of founding their own colonies. Lone queens during spring will search out young colonies of V. maculifrons or V. alascensis to usurp (Social Parasitism). MacDonald et al. (1980) considered V. flavopilosa to be a facultative temporary social parasite of V. maculifrons and V. alascensis (as V. vulgaris) based on five mixed colonies from across the range of the species." Geotagged,United States,Vespula flavopilosa


This individual was eating the head of a Luna moth corpse on our dirt road (at the edge of a dense mixed forest).


Some interesting information from BugGuide:
"but so far all known data point to the fact that the species is probably not capable of founding their own colonies. Lone queens during spring will search out young colonies of V. maculifrons or V. alascensis to usurp (Social Parasitism). MacDonald et al. (1980) considered V. flavopilosa to be a facultative temporary social parasite of V. maculifrons and V. alascensis (as V. vulgaris) based on five mixed colonies from across the range of the species."

    comments (1)

  1. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Gnarly! Ever since you stepped on the nest, I have been extra cautious in the woods and try to remember to look before I step. You are brave to go near them considering your experiences! Posted 5 years ago

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The Downy Yellowjacket

''Vespula flavopilosa'', also known as the downy yellowjacket, is a species of North American yellowjacket.

Info 2 0
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
Species identified by Flown Kimmerling
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By Flown Kimmerling

All rights reserved
Uploaded Aug 16, 2020. Captured Aug 16, 2020 09:29 in 227 Oakman Rd NE, Oakman, GA 30732, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  • f/25.0
  • 1/64s
  • ISO200
  • 100mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.

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