THE NESTING BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF THE CALIFORNIA YELLOWJACKET, VESPULA-SULFUREA (HYMENOPTERA, VESPIDAE)

Additional biological data are provided for Vespula sulphurea. Two mat ure nests from Shasta Co., CA were analyzed and found to consist of 5, 633 and 2,250 cells, and were estimated to have produced 17,300 and 3, 956 adults, respectively. Both nests were believed to have been Parave spula vulgaris nests that were usurped. Aspects of nest morphology aty pical for Vespula species were cordlike suspensoria and the presence o f reproductive cells on worker combs. Observations of foraging workers indicated habitat partitioning with other yellowjacket species. Colon y duration was longer than that of previously reported colonies, with the first workers appearing in early May and colony decline in October .