Dolichovespula

insect genus

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Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The genus Dolichovespula belongs to the wasp family Vespidae. These insects are commonly known as yellow jackets, though some species are marked with red or are black and white. Yellow jackets are social wasps, meaning they live in colonies with a caste system of queens, drones, and workers.1

Female wasps begin colonies in the spring, building nests from chewed plant material mixed with saliva. These nests have cells arranged vertically with openings facing downward. While some species, like those in the genus Dolichovespula, build exposed nests, others, such as those in the genus Vespula, construct concealed nests underground or in cavities. The size of these nests can vary significantly.1

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yellow jacket
…any of 35–40 species (genera Dolichovespula and Vespula) of social wasps, principally of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite the common name yellow jacket—which is used in reference to the typical coloration of the abdomen, with yellow and black markings—some species are white and black, and others are marked with red. Like…
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…any of 35–40 species (genera Dolichovespula and Vespula) of social wasps, principally of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite the common name yellow jacket—which is used in reference to the typical coloration of the abdomen, with yellow and black markings—some species are white and black, and others are marked with red. Like…
Read More