African Paper Wasp vs Eastern Yellowjacket
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Paper Wasp | Eastern Yellowjacket |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Belonogaster juncea | Vespula maculifrons |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Vespidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Southern Africa, East Africa | Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Paper Wasp
A slender reddish-brown social wasp that builds small open paper nests under eaves and branches. It preys on caterpillars to feed its larvae.
Did You Know?
They are considered beneficial by gardeners because a single colony can destroy hundreds of caterpillar pests per week.
Eastern Yellowjacket
A common ground-nesting yellowjacket with bold black and yellow banding on its abdomen. It builds large paper nests underground that can contain thousands of workers.
Did You Know?
Its underground nests can grow to the size of a basketball and contain over 4,000 workers by late summer.