''Vespula alascensis'', also referred to as common yellowjacket, is a species of
yellowjacket
Yellowjacket or yellowjacket is the common name in North America for predatory social wasps of the genus, genera ''Vespula'' and ''Dolichovespula''. Members of these genera are known simply as "wasps" in other English-speaking countries. Most of ...
that inhabits
North America. Although it was named in 1870, it was, until 2010, treated as a
taxonomic synonym
The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently.
* In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Lin ...
of a related species, ''
Vespula vulgaris
''Vespula vulgaris'', known as the Common wasp, is a species found in regions that include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, India, China, New Zealand and Australia. It is sometimes known in English as the European wasp, but the same name is ...
'', but is now recognized as a distinct
taxon
In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular n ...
.
Generally it nests in the ground.
References
Bugguide.net. Species ''Vespula alascensis''*
External Links
*
Vespidae
Insects described in 1870
{{Vespidae-stub