Vespula consobrina
Vespula consobrina, commonly known as the blackjacket (not to be confused with dolichovespula maculata, which is also called “blackjacket”), is a species of stinging wasp in the family Vespidae,[1][2] which includes multiple cousin species in the northern hemisphere, such as the famed german Yellow Jacket[1][2] and other social wasps.
| Vespula consobrina | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Genus: | Vespula |
| Species: | V. consobrina |
| Binomial name | |
| Vespula consobrina (Saussure) | |
Appearance
Queen Blackjackets are 17mm in size, while female workers are 10-12mm and males 15-16mm. Blackjacket wasps can easily be identified in the wild by their distinct black and white striped pattern on their abdomen and the white and black coloration.
Habitat and Distribution
Blackjackets can be found in all of Canada except Nunavut and in the northern states of the United States. They usually build their nests in abandoned rodent burrows, rotten or fallen down trees and hollow walls and rock cavities. They mostly stay in forested areas, and they rarely come into contact with people.
References
- "Vespula consobrina Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
- "Vespula consobrina species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
Further reading
- Carpenter, James M.; Kojima, Jun-ichi (1997). Checklist of the species of the subfamily Vespinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Natural History Bulletin of Ibaraki University. Vol. 1. Mito. pp. 51–92.
- Kimsey, L. S.; Carpenter, J. M. (2012). "The Vespinae of North America (Vespidae, Hymenoptera)". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 28: 37–65. doi:10.3897/jhr.28.3514.