Evergreen Natural History Database

Identification:
V. sulphurea is yellow and black. This is the only species in the genus Vespula, in our area, that has two longitudinal yellow stripes on the back of its thorax.

Geography:
This species is found in California, southern Oregon, and limited regions of Nevada and Arizona.

Natural History:
(Akre et al., 1980)- V. sulphurea has subterranean nests. It is not a common species. The placement of V. sulphurea and its sister species V. squamosa in the V. rufa species group has been questioned; in Akre et al. (1980) the placement was equivocal. The cladistic study of Carpenter (1987) showed V. sulphurea's placement in the V. rufa group to best supported.

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