Yellow Jackets September 2009

To set up these pictures they were taken in a small pump room under a house that is only occupied part of the time. The owners needed to replace the pump motor that had failed but they yellow jackets had other ideas about work being done in close proximity to their home. They were in the wall at the edge of the door.

Here they are just inside the door hidden the in the wall behind the insulation.

What is behind that insulation?

Now I have their attention and they are not too happy to see me.

Here is the nest with plenty of occupants.

The larva are visible on the underside of the nest.

Here is the cavity that the yellow jackets made in the insulation where they built their nest.