My mother found a German yellowjacket (Vespula germanica) that appeared to be hibernating on the ceiling of her shed. After knocking it down, I let it crawl onto a leaf and then a stump to photograph it. It didn’t have much energy and could only move very slowly, so there was no danger of it attacking me.
The yellowjacket was covered in dust, and occasionally it would clean itself by rubbing its head and antennae with its forelegs and then using its mandibles to clean off its legs.
Vespula germanica is an invasive species in Oregon and can be a nuisance around homes, so I sealed it in a container to kill it and perhaps preserve it as a specimen.
That’s good it was groggy…. couldn’t have gotten these great photos otherwise!!! Amazing to see these up close. I was surprised by all the fine hairs around the face!
It wouldn’t have been nearly as cooperative. Yes, that facial hair isn’t very noticeable during most yellowjacket encounters.
😁….no I wouldn’t notice those in a normal encounter, I’d be running in the opposite direction!!
So is it true that yellow jackets bite? I don’t see a stinger. Even groggy, too close!!
They are capable of biting, but they also sting. The stinger was retracted while I was photographing this one.
Oh, my! Invasive is no good! He’s pretty colorful but we don’t need him here! Good that you found him & made him a prisoner! Very interesting guy!