Texas Yellow Jacket: Most Common Yellow Jackets Found in Texas
The Texas Yellow Jacket is found in the southern United States. There are two main types of yellowjackets that thrive in the state, the southern yellowjacket and the eastern yellowjacket. Commonly found in Texas but also reported in other states such as Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Yellow Jacket Size
It is a medium-sized wasp, with a black and yellow striped abdomen. The female queen wasp can grow up to 1 inch in length, while the male is slightly smaller. They live in colonies with a complex social structure.
Yellow Jackets Sting & Temperament
The Texas Yellowjacket is an aggressive creature and will sting if it feels threatened. If you happen to get stung, it will feel like a sharp, burning pain. It is important to note that some people may be allergic to wasp stings and can experience more serious reactions such as difficulty breathing, swelling, and dizziness. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. With that being said, even though it has a painful sting, it is not considered to be a dangerous species.
Yellow Jackets Nest
A yellow jacket nest is a small, paper-like structure that is built by the yellow jacket wasp. The nests are typically built in trees, shrubs, or other protected areas, and can contain up to 5,000 wasps. The nests are made from a combination of chewed wood, plant material, and the wasp’s saliva, which hardens to form a strong paper-like material. The outer layer of the nest is composed of a hard paper-like material, while the inner layer is a softer paper. (Think paper mache here). The yellow jacket wasps use their nests for both shelters and to protect their young.
What is a Texas Yellowjackets Life Cycle?
The life cycle of a southeastern yellow jacket is very similar to that of the western yellow jacket. Both species are predatory wasps that feed on other insects.
The southeastern yellowjacket has a life cycle that consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Around early spring, the queen starts to build an initial nest in trees, shrubs, or the ground. She lays her eggs and as the eggs hatch into larvae, they eventually pupate and emerge as adults. Nests can grow into a colony of up to 5,000 wasps. In the fall, males and reproductive females will mate and leave the colony to start their own over winter.
What kind of yellow jackets are in Texas?
The most common yellowjackets found in Texas are the southern yellowjackets, scientific name, Vespula squamosa. However, east Texas is also home to the eastern yellowjacket, which is closely related.
