Common Aerial Yellowjackets
Common Aerial Yellowjackets derive their common name from the fact that their nests are often aerially constructed, unlike the underground yellowjackets we’re more familiar with. Being in the same genus, it’s not surprising that Bald-faced Hornets and Common Aerial Yellowjackets build nests that are almost identical. The nests of both species have two to six horizontally-arranged layers of comb (for eggs and larvae) inside several layers of protective paper envelopes. The easiest way to tell which species made a nest is to see if there are yellow (yellowjacket) or white ( hornet) markings on the residents. The yellowjackets on the outside of the nest in the photograph are all busy making paper-mache out of wood fiber and applying it to their nest in order to enlarge it.
Which species is more aggressive about defending the nest area?
August 6, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Having been stung four times taking this photograph, I can tell you that yellowjackets are much more aggressive than hornets, but both are very protective of nests and their young!
August 6, 2012 at 1:03 pm
What an absolutely beautiful nest. Do I understand correctly that these are used only for one year?
August 6, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Yes, Kathryn, you are right — all but the the queen die, and she overwinters in a rotting log or another protected spot. Next spring she’ll start a new nest. Old nests are used for various purposes, from a snug, well-insulated winter home for mice to building material for nesting birds next spring.
August 6, 2012 at 1:05 pm
I always learn something new from your posts, but this is a whole new animal I didn’t know existed. Thanks for the education, Mary.
August 6, 2012 at 8:33 pm
So, the queen that was active in this year’s nest will start another nest next year? I had always thought that it was the young queens that hatched this year that would start their nests the following year. Can queens live for multiple years, then? Another question—have you noticed any correlation to weather in a particular year, and the number of wasp/hornet/bee nests?
August 7, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Hi Al,
You’re absolutely correct, and I apologize for not being clearer about the details of which queen overwinters. It is my understanding that at the end of the summer new queens and males are produced, and they proceed to mate, with the new queens overwintering. The old queen does, in fact, die, as well as the rest of the hive.
August 7, 2012 at 5:15 pm