Wasp (Yellowjacket)

About the Wasp (Yellowjacket)

The most aggressive common wasp - they can sting multiple times without dying (unlike honeybees). Colonies can contain 5,000 workers. They are actually beneficial predators, feeding caterpillars and flies to their young. They are attracted to meat and sugary drinks at picnics. Their venom contains mastoparan, studied for potential cancer treatment. Queens overwinter and start new colonies each spring. They build paper nests in ground cavities or wall voids. Over 30 species worldwide. They release alarm pheromones when threatened, summoning the entire colony.