California Yellowjacket
Vespula sulphurea
This record describes Vespula sulphurea (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 . Key to Nearctic Vespinae genera in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region . Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂) Little is known about this species of yellowjacket. Nests, when found, are usually underground. The maximum number of active workers found in any one nest was less than 1,100. This is not a common species and is not known to cause nuisance to people.
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.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Restricted almost entirely to the Upper Sonoran fauna of California, but it also occurs in southern Oregon, western Nevada, southern Arizona, and northern Baja, Mexico
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Vespula sulphurea. 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 California Yellowjacket (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Lynette Elliott , Matthias Buck , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About California Yellowjacket
What is California Yellowjacket?
California Yellowjacket (Vespula sulphurea) is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify California Yellowjacket?
Key to eastern Nearctic Vespula species in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region . Key to Nearctic Vespinae genera in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region . Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)
Where is California Yellowjacket found?
Range: Restricted almost entirely to the Upper Sonoran fauna of California, but it also occurs in southern Oregon, western Nevada, southern Arizona, and northern Baja, Mexico