American Cuckoo Yellowjacket
Vespula infernalis
This record describes Vespula infernalis (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Key to eastern Nearctic Vespula species in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region (as V. austriaca ). Key to Nearctic Vespinae genera in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region . [No image] Queen (♀♀) Male (♂)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Vespinae
- Genus
- Vespula (Ground Yellowjackets)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
A social parasite of Vespula acadica that thus has no worker caste, with the larvae instead being reared by the workers of the host species.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Vespula infernalis. 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 American Cuckoo Yellowjacket (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Matthias Buck , Ben Coulter , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About American Cuckoo Yellowjacket
What is American Cuckoo Yellowjacket?
American Cuckoo Yellowjacket (Vespula infernalis) is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify American Cuckoo Yellowjacket?
Key to eastern Nearctic Vespula species in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region (as V. austriaca ). Key to Nearctic Vespinae genera in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region . [No image] Queen (♀♀) Male (♂)
What is the life cycle of a American Cuckoo Yellowjacket?
A social parasite of Vespula acadica that thus has no worker caste, with the larvae instead being reared by the workers of the host species.