Southern yellowjacket

Appearance

''V. squamosa'' is typically about half an inch long and distinguishable by its black body and yellow striping pattern over its entire body. This species has clear wings and a hairless body. While the males and workers resemble other yellowjackets, the queen has a unique appearance. She is significantly larger than the males and workers and is more orange in color. In addition, both ''V. squamosa'' and the ''V. sulphurea'' have two stripes on their scuta, which differentiates them from other species.

Distribution

Southern yellowjackets are typically found in the eastern United States and as far south as Mexico and Guatemala. Their territory expands as far west as Texas and as far east as the Atlantic Ocean. These areas tend to have fairly warm weather and in some cases, tropical climates.

Habitat

Nests are typically found in unnatural habitats, such as yards, parks, and sides of roads. Some colonies, though, are found in pine forests. Their parasitic relationship with ''V. maculifrons'' can result in ''V. squamosa'' colony formation in hardwood forests, a habitat more typical of ''V. maculifrons''. Most nests are subterranean, though some have been found above ground or in walls, close to ''V. maculifrons'' nests.

Reproduction

Southern yellowjackets' nests are typically built in unnatural or disturbed environments such as yards, picnic tables, and other artificial environments. They are usually made from chewed vegetable fibers.

Colonies have been reported to contain from 9000 to more than 450,000 cells. One of the largest reported nests was 114.3 cm in diameter at its widest point and had about 39 combs. It was about 3 m tall and had a 3-m diameter. While most social wasps have annual nests, many instances of multiple-season ''V. squamosa'' nests have been found, especially in the southern coastal areas of the species' range.

Food

This species is predatory and typically eats live insects, but they also feed on the flesh of deceased prey. They typically prey on arthropods, including spiders and caterpillars. For larvae to grow into the pupal state, adult workers find prey and bring food back for them. When establishing the colony, the queen goes out in search of nectar and insects for the larvae, as well. This species does not produce honey, though.

Defense

As a form of defense of their nests, southern yellowjacket workers use alarm pheromones to communicate with each other to coordinate an attack. These behaviors are chemically mediated, and these alarm pheromones cause many social wasp species to leave the nest and attack whatever may be threatening it.

Individuals can emit this pheromone from a few places in their bodies. Pheromone activity occurs in the stomach, and more specifically in a venom gland within the stomach. Odors on objects or people attacked by ''V. squamosa'' differ from the previously isolated chemical alarm pheromone, N-3-methylbutylacetamide. A second source of an alarm pheromone is found in the venom glands of the head of an individual. The alarm pheromones may be applied by the mandible.