Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket
Dolichovespula arctica
This record describes Dolichovespula arctica (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Queen (♀♀) Male (♂)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Vespinae
- Genus
- Dolichovespula (Aerial Yellowjackets)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
transcontinental in the north, LB-AK south to GA, AZ, & CA; absent for much of the Midwest
Diet and Behavior
Life History
A social parasite of D. arenaria and D. norvegicoides that thus has no worker caste , with the larvae instead being reared by the workers of the host species.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dolichovespula arctica (Rohwer, 1916)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Dolichovespula arctica. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by cotinis , Jay Barnes , Matthias Buck , v belov , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket
How big is Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket?
Queens 18 mm; males 15 mm
How do you identify Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket?
Queen (♀♀) Male (♂)
Where is Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket found?
Range: transcontinental in the north, LB-AK south to GA, AZ, & CA; absent for much of the Midwest
What is the life cycle of a Parasitic Aerial Yellowjacket?
A social parasite of D. arenaria and D. norvegicoides that thus has no worker caste , with the larvae instead being reared by the workers of the host species.