Vespidae

Latreille, 1802

Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, Yellowjackets, Mason Wasps

Subfamily Guides

5

A large, of encompassing nearly 5,000 described . includes nearly all known eusocial wasps—such as hornets, yellowjackets, and paper wasps—as well as numerous solitary species including potter and mason wasps. The family exhibits remarkable diversity in nesting , from paper nests constructed from chewed plant fibers to mud nests and soil burrows. Social colonies typically contain a reproductive and sterile or subfertile female , with temperate species producing new queens and males annually before colony collapse in winter.

Pterocheilus by (c) Catherine C. Galley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Catherine C. Galley. Used under a CC-BY license.Eumenes smithii by (c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick. Used under a CC-BY license.Euodynerus annulatus by (c) Catherine C. Galley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Catherine C. Galley. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Vespidae: //ˈvɛspɪdiː//

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Habitat

Occurs in diverse environments including temperate forests, tropical rainforests, savannas, urban areas, and agricultural landscapes. Nesting substrates vary by : Polistinae and Vespinae construct paper nests from masticated plant fibers, often attached to vegetation or structures; Eumeninae utilize pre-existing cavities, hollow stems, or construct free-standing mud nests; some Eumeninae such as Pterocheilus excavate soil burrows.

Distribution

distribution spanning all continents except Antarctica. Native to temperate and tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere; introduced established in New Zealand and southern Australia. Individual show varying ranges: Mischocyttarus flavitarsis occurs from British Columbia to Mexico and east to Nebraska; Symmorphus species range across North America with varying longitudinal distributions; Agelaia extends from Mexico to Uruguay in the Neotropics.

Seasonality

Activity patterns vary by . Temperate social exhibit colony cycles: queens emerge from hibernation in spring, establish nests, and colonies persist until autumn when new queens and males are produced; colonies die with winter onset. Solitary species show more extended activity periods during warm months. Hibernation occurs in sheltered locations including tree bark crevices, rock piles, and human structures.

Diet

primarily consume nectar, honeydew, and other sugary liquids. Larvae are , fed with paralyzed or pre-masticated prey. Social provision larvae with caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects; some larger hornets specialize in preying on other or honey bees.

Life Cycle

Holometabolous development with , larva, pupa, and stages. Social : single initiates nest, produces through parthenogenetic or ; workers assume foraging and care duties. Colony occurs via production of new queens and males (drones) in late summer; mating occurs, followed by queen hibernation. Solitary species: females construct individual nests, provision with paralyzed prey, lay single eggs per cell, and seal chambers.

Behavior

Social exhibit cooperative care, reproductive division of labor, and overlapping —hallmarks of eusociality. engage in prey capture, nest construction, and colony defense. Some species demonstrate : larvae produce protein-rich secretions consumed by . Solitary species show diverse nesting including mud construction, cavity utilization, and soil excavation. Defensive stinging occurs in response to nest disturbance; males do not sting.

Ecological Role

and of caterpillars and other herbivorous insects, contributing to natural . Some function as through pollen activity. Nests provide for commensals and including ichneumonid wasps, chrysidid cuckoo wasps, and phorid flies. Social serve as prey for birds, ants, and other vertebrates and .

Human Relevance

Beneficial as of agricultural and forest pests. Stings pose medical risks including allergic reactions; multiple stings can be life-threatening. Some are nuisance pests in urban areas. Nests in structures may require management. Several species outside native range, including Vespula germanica and Vespa velutina.

Similar Taxa

  • SphecidaeBoth contain solitary that hunt caterpillars and construct nests, but Sphecidae typically have thread-waisted and different wing venation; includes social and constructs paper or mud nests rather than the soil burrows typical of many sphecids.
  • PompilidaeSpider wasps share predatory habits and some superficial morphological similarities, but specialize on spiders as prey, possess different body proportions with longer legs, and lack the social and paper nest construction seen in many .

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