Widow Yellowjacket
Vespula vidua
This record describes Vespula vidua (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 . A large yellowjacket with extensive black markings on bright yellow background. Second abdominal tergite with expansive black, generally without pale spots (but see atypical individual here ). Free spots often present within yellow fascia on 4th and 5th abdominal tergites. Abdominal tergites including and distal to T2 with only sparse pubescence (more densely hairy on similar V. acadica ). Females with black clypeal markings separated from subantennal markings, often broken into three spots, but sometimes more complete. Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) 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.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Of three colonies discovered in SW Pennsylvania, two were subterranean, and one was located in the wall of a structure (B. Coulter, pers. ob.)
Geographic Range
In Canada, from southern Ontario east to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In United States, found in northeast from New England coast west through Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes region to Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and North Dakota, and south along Appalachians and Piedmont to Georgia. ( 3 ) Range extensions from BugGuide submissions in North Dakota and Missouri (new state record).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults feed on nectar and other fluids. Larvae are fed masticated arthropods by adults. This species is a member of the Vespula rufa species group, and is considered strictly predatory, although Richter and Colvin (1994) documented V. vidua scavenging pieces of freshly dead caterpillar.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The specific name vidua is Latin for "widow", possibly a reference to the largely black coloration of this species compared to other yellowjackets.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Vespula vidua. 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 Widow Yellowjacket (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , tom murray , Matthias Buck , Ben Coulter , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Widow Yellowjacket
What is Widow Yellowjacket?
Widow Yellowjacket (Vespula vidua) is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Widow 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 . A large yellowjacket with extensive black markings on bright yellow background. Second abdominal tergite with expansive black, generally without pale spots (but see atypical individual here ). Free spots often present within yellow fascia on 4th and 5th abdominal tergites. Abdominal tergites including and distal to T2 with only sparse pubescence (more densely hairy on similar V. acadica ). Females with black clypeal markings separated from subantennal markings, often broken into three spots, but sometimes more complete. Queen (♀♀) Worker (♀) Male (♂)
Where is Widow Yellowjacket found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Of three colonies discovered in SW Pennsylvania, two were subterranean, and one was located in the wall of a structure (B. Coulter, pers. ob.) |
| Range | In Canada, from southern Ontario east to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In United States, found in northeast from New England coast west through Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes region to Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and North Dakota, and south along Appalachians and Piedmont to Georgia. ( 3 ) Range extensions from BugGuide submissions in North Dakota and Missouri (new state record). |
What does Widow Yellowjacket eat?
The diet of the Widow Yellowjacket includes Adults feed on nectar and other fluids. Larvae are fed masticated arthropods by adults. This species is a member of the Vespula rufa species group, and is considered strictly predatory, although Richter and Colvin (1994) documented V. vidua scavenging pieces of freshly dead caterpillar..