Latin Name:  Vespula acadica (Sladen, 1918)
                        (R. Bercha det., confirmed by M. Buck)

Length:  10-15 mm

Range: Alberta

Habitat:  Forest

Time of year seen:  Spring to Fall

Diet: Insects

Other:  The Forest Yellowjacket builds it nests underground and in and under old decaying logs. It is primarily a species of forested areas, with mature colonies having up to ~400 workers.  If disturbed, workers behave aggressively and sting repeatedly  Workers are predatory, attacking only live prey, including flies, caterpillars and true bugs. (Akre et al, 1980)  Identifying features are as follows: black and yellow coloration, narrow oculomalar space, thorax lacking two yellow stripes, second abdomen segment with one pair of isolated yellow or brownish spots surrounded by black.