Western Yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica):
SUMMERY:
Observed in Western and Eastern Washington. Mostly nests Subterranean and in concealed voided areas. Very aggressive and attacks like a bull dog by gripping with its mandibles and stinging repeatedly. Very yellow and it tends to stand out more than the black. Nests are large, usually exceeding a few thousand. The nesting cycle usually starts in early summer and ends in early winter
NEST ANATOMY:
The nest material is typically made from solid/sound cellulose or other plant fibers. The comb structure usually has 7-8 layers at the end of the season. However, this depends on the success of the colony. The paper of the nest is fairly tough and and can endure some movement. Furthermore, the color of the nest is most commonly gray with beige stripes.​​​
TAXANOMIC KEYS IN HAND: (Worker)
​Observable with the naked eye, one of the easiest ways to ID this insects is from the complete yellow ring around it compound eye.​