Vespula atropilosa
| Vespula atropilosa | |
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| Vespula atropilosa queen feeding on pollen in Fort Collins, CO | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Genus: | Vespula |
| Species: | V. atropilosa |
| Binomial name | |
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Vespula atropilosa Sladan, 1918 Miller, 1961 |
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| Distribution of Vespula atropilosa | |
Vespula atropilosa, also known as the prairie yellowjacket, is a black and yellow social wasp that forms annual colonies.Vespula atropilosa was formerly a member of the Vespa family. Males have either xanthic (yellow) or melanic (black) abdominal coloring. The prairie yellowjacket can be found in the Western and Midwestern United States as well as parts of southern Canada. It builds its nests underground and prefers large open areas such as pastures and golf courses.Vespula atropilosa colonies are founded by a queen in the spring and grow most during mid-summer. It preys on other insects such as flies and grasshoppers but is not a scavenger like other wasps. Queens mate with multiple males, and males will fight each other for matings.V. atropilosa is a social wasp that practices altruism. Prairie yellowjackets are not considered pests but are commonly found in backyards in the Pacific Northwest. This species derives its common name from the prairies and grasslands where it can be found. Its scientific name, atropilosa comes from the Latin 'atro' for black and 'pilus' for hair.
The taxonomic status of Vespula atropilosa has been variable. V. atropilosa has not always been accepted as its own species. Bequaret (1931) considered it to be a xanthic form of Vespula rufa. Bohart and Bechtel (1957) considered it a subspecies of Vespula rufa but Miller (1961) recognized it as a unique species.
The prairie yellowjacket was formerly known as Vespa atropilosa before being moved to the genus Vespula. It has been described by both W.P. Sladen in 1918 and C.D.F. Miller in 1961.
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