German Yellowjacket vs Tobacco Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute German Yellowjacket Tobacco Moth
Scientific Name Vespula germanica Ephestia elutella
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Vespidae Pyralidae
Size 12-16 mm 8-11 mm body; 14-20 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Indoors
Diet Fruit Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe, North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa Worldwide in temperate and subtropical regions
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

German Yellowjacket

A highly adaptable social wasp that has become one of the most widespread invasive insects globally. They build large enclosed paper nests in wall cavities and roof spaces.

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Did You Know?

Indoor nests in heated buildings can survive winter and grow to enormous sizes containing over a million cells.

Tobacco Moth

A small greyish-brown moth that primarily infests stored tobacco but also attacks cocoa, cereals, and dried fruits. It is cold-tolerant and problematic in temperate warehouse environments.

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Did You Know?

It is more cold-hardy than most stored product moths and can complete development at temperatures as low as 15 degrees Celsius.