Vespula atropilosa
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Vespula atropilosa, also known as the prairie yellowjacket, is a black and yellow social wasp that forms annual colonies. Vespula atropilosa was formerly a member of the Vespa family. Males have either xanthic (yellow) or melanic (black) abdominal coloring. The prairie yellowjacket can be found in the Western and Midwestern United States as well as parts of southern Canada. It builds its nests underground and prefers large open areas such as pastures and golf courses. Vespula atropilosa colonies are founded by a queen in the spring and grow most during mid-summer. It preys on other insects such as flies and grasshoppers but is not a scavenger like other wasps. Queens mate with multiple males, and males will fight each other for matings. V. atropilosa is a social wasp that practices altruism. Prairie yellowjackets are not considered pests but are commonly found in backyards in the Pacific Northwest. This species derives its common name from the prairies and grasslands where it can be found.
The taxonomic status of Vespula atropilosa has been variable. V. atropilosa has not always been accepted as its own species. Bequaert (1931) considered it to be a xanthic... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Prairie Yellowjacket sighting in Calgary on a given day, based on 90 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 33rd most-seen of the 256 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May to October
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Prairie Yellowjacket in Calgary on a given day, against under 5% in November to April, the lowest months. Those are among Calgary's wettest months, with about 65 mm of rain a month against 15 mm in January.
Yes
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Prairie Yellowjacket sightings, Calgary has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Edmonton (Canada, about 10%) and Denver (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Prairie Yellowjacket is recorded against all the insects logged in Calgary (90 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
