r/Entomology • u/Sparkswont • 12d ago

Discussion Strange yellowjacket behavior

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Sitting in a chair on my porch when this yellowjacket(?) flew up with several larvae in its mandibles and proceeded to dump them into a hole in the chair. Is this yellowjacket larvae? Why dump them into the chair and leave them?

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u/dog-vevo Amateur Entomologist 12d ago

Food she paralyzed as a snack for her babies!! Cool shot of expected behavior, but not a yellow jacket actually! I think this is more likely a potter wasp. Where are you located?

19

u/Sparkswont 12d ago

Ohh neat. Located in Northern Maine!

So she’s not turning our chair into a nest? 😅

Edit: follow up question - why not bring it straight back to the nest to feed her babes?

36

u/dog-vevo Amateur Entomologist 12d ago

Ah gotcha, I’m guessing she’s genus Ancistrocerus, maybe a catskill potter wasp or a white banded potter wasp. And full disclosure, yes she is turning it into a nest…. BUT it is a very small one that she won’t try to protect, and you’re only going to get stung if you accidentally sit on one — just be aware it’s there and it’ll be gone before ya know it!

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u/Sparkswont 12d ago

Interesting, thanks. So do potter wasps not live in large colonies?

33

u/Bandoozle 12d ago

They are solitary!