Vespula

Vespula is a genus of socialwasps, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Along with members of their sister genusDolichovespula, they are collectively known by the common nameyellowjackets (or yellow jackets) in North America. Vespula species have a shorter oculomalar space (shown in the figure below right) and a more pronounced tendency to nest underground than Dolichovespula.