Western Yellowjacket vs Disc-Headed Turtle Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Yellowjacket | Disc-Headed Turtle Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vespula pensylvanica | Cephalotes varians |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 11-16 mm | 3-6 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Carrion Feeders | Gall Makers |
| Regions | Western North America from Alaska to Mexico | Southeastern United States (Florida), Caribbean, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Western Yellowjacket
The most common yellowjacket in western North America with a distinctive diamond-shaped black mark on its first abdominal segment. It is a frequent uninvited guest at outdoor picnics.
Did You Know?
In Hawaii, where it was accidentally introduced, it has become a serious invasive pest threatening native insects.
Disc-Headed Turtle Ant
A small arboreal turtle ant in which soldiers have perfectly circular, flat heads that serve as living nest entrance plugs. Workers are dark brown with lateral body flanges. They nest in abandoned beetle galleries in living trees.
Did You Know?
Their soldier heads evolved to exactly match the diameter of beetle bore holes, creating a perfect manhole-cover defense system.