Integrated Pest Management Guide

WASPS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Two commonly occurring species of wasps in British Columbia cranberry beds are the bald-faced hornet (Vespula maculata) and the yellow jacket (Vespula spp.). They are both social wasps and build their nests out of "wasp paper", a material made from chewed wood and saliva. Yellow jackets, which are 12 - 16 mm (1/2 - 5/8 inch) long, usually with black, yellow and white markings, nest in the ground. The black and white bald-faced hornets, which are 16 - 20 mm (5/8 - 7/8 inch) long, construct nests that are free-hanging and often can be found attached to branches or houses. Both species rear their young by "progressive provisioning" which means the larvae are cared for until maturity by the adults. The larvae are fed pre-chewed insects while the adults live on nectar, honeydew, pollen, ripe fruit and insects. In both species, the colony consists of queens, workers and males. The fertilized queens overwinter and start a new colony in spring. The first brood consists of female workers that rear the second generation and take over all duties concerning the nest while the queen does little else but lay eggs. The males develop in late summer from unfertilized eggs and mate with the queens. Only the mated queens overwinter in soil or leaf litter.
 

Yellow jacket wasp eating caterpillar

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