Eastern yellowjacket vs Southern yellowjacket
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell an eastern yellowjacket from a southern yellowjacket, and whether either one bites or stings.
Eastern yellowjacket
Vespula maculifrons
Southern yellowjacket
Vespula squamosa
≠The key differences
V. maculifrons is a common host and looks very similar; differences are small pattern details on the abdomen and face — identification often requires close inspection or expert keys.
⚖︎Side by side
| Eastern yellowjacket | Southern yellowjacket | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Stinging wasp | Painful sting |
| Size | 10-16 mm body length (workers); queens larger, up to about 20 mm | Workers 10-16 mm; queens up to 18-20 mm |
| Colours | Yellow, Black | Yellow, Black, Pale brown (nest paper) |
| Family | Vespidae | Vespidae |
| Habitat | Edges of woods, fields, suburban areas; nests in underground cavities (rodent burrows, soil cavities), wall voids and occasionally above ground in sheltered sites | Woodland edges, fields, urban and suburban areas; nests in soil cavities, under logs, inside wall voids and other protected cavities |
| Range | Eastern North America — broadly across eastern United States and adjacent southern Canada | Eastern and southeastern United States, west into the southern central US, and south through Mexico into Central America |
| Active | Spring through fall; peak activity in mid to late summer and early autumn; active during daylight | Spring to late fall; most abundant and aggressive in late summer and early fall during colony maturity |
| Pest? | Yes | Yes |
🔍How to spot an eastern yellowjacket
- Stocky yellow-and-black wasp with alternating abdominal bands and distinctive dorsal markings on the abdomen.
- Body length about 10-16 mm for workers; queens noticeably larger.
- Nests typically underground in cavities or rodent burrows; watch for wasps flying directly to and from a small ground entrance.
🔍How to spot a southern yellowjacket
- Yellow-and-black banded abdomen and two lengthwise yellow stripes on top of the thorax; queens have a mostly orange-brown abdomen.
- Size: workers about 10-16 mm, queens larger and bulkier.
- Nesting site: often subterranean or in cavities; unusually large colonies or aggregations of combs may indicate V. squamosa involvement.
- Behavior: many workers foraging together on fruit or at human food sources, aggressive when nest disturbed.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an eastern yellowjacket and a southern yellowjacket?
V. maculifrons is a common host and looks very similar; differences are small pattern details on the abdomen and face — identification often requires close inspection or expert keys.
Is an eastern yellowjacket or a southern yellowjacket more dangerous?
Eastern yellowjacket: Stinging wasp. Southern yellowjacket: Painful sting. Workers can sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively. Southern yellowjackets can sting repeatedly; stings are painful and can cause severe allergic reactions in susceptible people (anaphylaxis).
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.