Evergreen Natural History Database

Common Name:
The prairie yellowjacket.

Identification:
Vespula atropilosa is black with yellow markings. The underside of its scape is yellow, as opposed to the scape being all black. The middle black region of the apex of the second gastral tergum is pointed. This differentiates V. atropilosa from V. acadica which has this middle black region of tergum two rounded.

Geography:
This species is only found in Western North America.

Natural History:
(Akre et al., 1980) - V. atropilosa is abundant in prairies and open forests. This species usually has ground nests. They feed mostly on live prey.

Last updated Tuesday, August 08, 2006, by Lisa Ferrier