yellow jacket
- Also spelled:
- yellowjacket
- Related Topics:
- Dolichovespula
- Vespula
- Vespinae
yellow jacket, any of 35–40 species (genus Dolichovespula or Vespula) of social wasps, principally of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite the common name yellow jacket—which is used in reference to the typical coloration of the abdomen, with yellow and black markings—some species are white and black, and others are marked with red. Yellow jackets differ from other wasps in having their wings folded longitudinally when at rest. Dolichovespula species typically build exposed nests. Vespula species build concealed nests underground or in protected cavities; when a nest is stepped on, the colony may erupt in an angry, stinging swarm. Nest size varies widely; some nests can be held in one hand, whereas nests in warmer climates may weigh half a ton.