Common Aerial Yellowjacket
Dolichovespula arenaria
This record describes Dolichovespula arenaria (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂) They have mostly aerial nests, from a few centimeters above ground to the tops or trees, or houses or sheds. But in some cases they build nests under rocks or even underground.
Identification notes
Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)
Wikipedia reference for Dolichovespula arenaria: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolichovespula_arenaria.
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
Habitat
Arboreal to subterranean habitats.
Geographic Range
abundant throughout boreal NA From north central Alaska to as far south as New Mexico and Arizona.
Seasonal Activity
may begin nest building as early as March in California
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Arthropods: grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, spiders, flies, lacewings, and even lady beetles (avoided by other wasps). Also fall webworm. Sometimes carcasses of vertebrates.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dolichovespula arenaria (Fabricius, 1775)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Dolichovespula arenaria. 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 Common Aerial Yellowjacket (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Robin McLeod , Tony-2 , Matthias Buck , v belov , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Aerial Yellowjacket
What is Common Aerial Yellowjacket?
Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria) is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Common Aerial Yellowjacket?
Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)
Where is Common Aerial Yellowjacket found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arboreal to subterranean habitats. |
| Range | abundant throughout boreal NA From north central Alaska to as far south as New Mexico and Arizona. |
What does Common Aerial Yellowjacket eat?
The diet of the Common Aerial Yellowjacket includes Arthropods: grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, spiders, flies, lacewings, and even lady beetles (avoided by other wasps). Also fall webworm. Sometimes carcasses of vertebrates..
When is Common Aerial Yellowjacket active?
Common Aerial Yellowjacket: seasonal activity - may begin nest building as early as March in California.