CONTROL If you discover a Yellowjacket

In the summer months foraging may become a nuisance in parks, AVOID THE AREA. YELLOWJACKETS campgrounds, and other recreational areas. Keep children and pets away from the nest. Yellowjacket populations have been managed by: NOTIFY  A pest control company, the Vector Control  Sanitation District, or other governmental authorities. OF This is the most effective method of controlling foraging adults. Tightly covering all waste food sources and moving garbage receptacles away If you are attacked by Yellowjackets from eating areas reduces food available to foraging workers. Eliminating standing water CALIFORNIA

sources helps to reduce the water available for LEAVE AREA QUICKLY cooling the nest and drinking. Attack could last until victim vacates the area.

 Depletion Trapping COVER FACE This is not an effective method of controlling Use clothes to protect eyes and mouth from Yellowjacket populations. Commercially avail- Yellowjackets. able traps use a chemical lure to attract

foraging workers into a container with a one way passage. Once inside, the cannot First aid for Yellowjacket stings escape and dies. Traps should be placed in areas away from food and people. For any sting:  Wash with soap and cold water.  Nest Control Homeowners should not attempt to control a For allergic reactions: Yellowjacket nest because special clothing is  As soon as possible seek professional required to protect yourself from stinging. Call medical care. a private pest control company or the local  Watch for breathing difficulties. vector control agency. For multiple stings or hypersensitive individuals: SIMILAR STINGING  Immediately get professional medical care. Paper : Large insect, yellow with  Do not wait for symptoms to develop. black markings or brownish-red with For more information call: yellow markings and amber wings. Builds MOSQUITO and VECTOR circular nest with a single horizontal comb MANAGEMENT DISTRICT on building eaves. of Santa Barbara County

Medium-sized insect, OFFICE: 2450 Lillie Ave.  MAIL: P.O. Box 1389 Mud Dauber: black or brown with Summerland, CA 93067 yellow markings. Builds TELEPHONE: (805) 969-5050 nest from soil on E-MAIL: [email protected] MOSQUITO and VECTOR building eaves or walls. Visit our WEBSITE: www.mvmdistrict.org MANAGEMENT DISTRICT of Santa Barbara County K. Boyce & S. Maggy, Sac/Yolo MVCD 9/94 GENERAL INFORMATION YELLOWJACKET COMMON CALIFORNIA YELLOWJACKETS

Yellowjackets are social insects that live in a Yellowjackets use plant fibers from trees and  Western Yellowjacket ( pensylvanica) nest. They are medium sized black with shrubs to produce a paper-like material for nest This Yellowjacket is a major pest in yellow or white markings. Depending on the construction. Inside the nest is a series of California. It is primarily a scavenger and in the type of Yellowjacket, they build aerial or suspended combs that contain cells where summer months adults are common around subterranean nests. Aerial nests are built in young are reared. The combs are enclosed garbage receptacles in public areas. Nests are trees, utility poles, or on house eaves. inside one or more layers of a paper envelope. usually constructed in abandoned rodent burrows Subterranean nests are constructed in The surface of the envelope is gray with tan or in house walls and attics. Nests contain 500 to abandoned rodent burrows, tree cavities, or and yellow stripes and has a scalloped texture. 5000 workers, and start to decline in late ground holes. September to October.

When a nest is disturbed, Yellowjackets can  Common Yellowjacket () inflict multiple stings that are painful and may This Yellowjacket can be a pest because adults be life threatening to individuals who are are attracted to protein or sugar sources. This hypersensitive to the . species is also considered a beneficial organism because workers prey on caterpillars and other In late summer months, when Yellowjacket insects. Nests are mostly subterranean, but can populations increase, they can create a be constructed inside house walls or in aerial nuisance in parks by scavenging for food from locations. Nests are large and contain 500 to picnic areas. They can cause structural 5000 workers. Nests remain active until damage to a home when they construct nests September to December. in walls or attics. Adults of some species are beneficial to humans because they prey on  German Yellowjacket () and other insects. This Yellowjacket is not a species native to California, but has become established in some areas. Adults are scavengers and predators of LIFE CYCLE other insects. It builds nests in hollow walls, attics, or aerial nests. Nests constructed inside YELLOWJACKET CASTES walls can cause damage to the interior of a home Yellowjackets have four life stages: and can result in adult Yellowjackets inside the

Nests contain three types of Yellowjackets: house. Nests contain 500 to 5000 workers and egg adult start to decline in late September to December.

 Prairie Yellowjacket (Vespula atropilosa) Worker: forages for food, feeds young, nest construction. This Yellowjacket is not a pest. It feeds on live insects, helping to control flies or caterpillars. Nests are constructed in the ground in open areas like grasslands or golf courses. Nests contain 75 to 400 workers and start to decline in

Queen: establishes nest, lays eggs. late August to September.

 Aerial Yellowjacket ( arenaria) This Yellowjacket is a beneficial organism. Workers prey on flies and caterpillars and rarely

scavenge. They build small aerial nests that Male: reproductive role. contain 100 to 700 workers. Nests begin to decline in July to September.