Overview
Distribution
Geographic Range
Throughout North America as far north as the Arctic Circle
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
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National Distribution
Canada
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Ecology
Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Adults commonly feed on nectar and the jucies of ripe fruits. Workers prey upon smaller insects, such as caterpillars, and feed the macerated insects to the larvae of the colony. Adult mouthparts are designed for chewing, catching, and sucking.
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Associations
Flowering Plants Visited by Dolichovespula arenaria in Illinois
(observations are from Graenicher, Reed, Larson & Barrett, Barrett & Helenurm, and Thomson et al.)
Araliaceae: Aralia hispida sn (TMP); Asteraceae: Antennaria neglecta [unsp sn] (Gr), Arctium lappa sn (Gr), Aster furcatus sn (Gr), Aster lateriflorus sn (Gr), Cirsium arvense sn (Gr), Conyza canadensis sn (Gr), Euthamia graminifolia sn (Gr), Helianthus strumosus sn (Gr), Solidago canadensis sn (Gr), Solidago juncea sn (Gr), Solidago speciosa sn (Re); Caprifoliaceae: Symphoricarpos albus sn (Gr); Lamiaceae: Pycnanthemum virginianum sn (Re); Melastomataceae: Rhexia virginica exp np (LBt); Pyrolaceae: Orthilia secunda (BH)
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Hilty, J. Editor. 2010. Insect Visitors of Illinois Wildflowers. World Wide Web electronic publication. flowervisitors.info, version (09/2010).
See: Abbreviations for Insect Activities, Abbreviations for Scientific Observers, References for behavioral observations H
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Life History and Behavior
Reproduction
Reproduction
Reproduction is sexual. A fertile female becomes impregnated at the end of a season by a haploid male. She then hibernates though the winter and founds a new colony the following spring. The larvae are maggot-like while the adults resemble the queen in many respects. The queen controls the sex of her offspring, and she produces haploid males only at the end of the season, to insure the founding of new colonies.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Dolichovespula arenaria
There is 1 barcode sequence available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is the sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen. Other sequences that do not yet meet barcode criteria may also be available.
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Download FASTA File
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Dolichovespula arenaria
Public Records: 1
Species: 36
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
Conservation Status
This species is abundant and successful thoughout its range.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Chewing and sucking of fruits meant for human use causes crop loses. They take parts of domestic plants for the construction of the nest. Can cause serious injury to humans with sting. Can transmit a disease called Fire Blight to potato crops.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Yellowjackets are predators of some insects which are harmful to domesticated plants. They have been used in the biological control of other pest species. They also aid in the production of some fruits by pollinating the flowers. Behavior and sociobiology of some "higher animals" have been studied using yellowjackets as a guide.
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Animal Diversity Web
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