May I present to you the species of insect that I suspect is responsible for the most stings in California, Vespula pensylvanica, the western yellowjacket.

This species nests in the ground, often in suburban areas or along trails. It will aggressively defend the nest, flying out and stinging any passers-by that come too close. It also is a generalist forager, and is attracted to human food and garbage. Finally, populations outbreak every 3-5 years, causing many encounters. Last year was an outbreak year, and many of us on the summer 2024 run of CEC, including myself, ended up getting got. Luckily, this year numbers seem much more manageable. Unluckily, we found a very active nest right in the center of our camp at Angelo Coast Range Reserve. By keeping our distance, we were able to co-exist relatively peacefully.

The western yellowjacket is one of the few native species I have a kneejerk negative reaction to. Therefore, I decided to take a closer look at one to appreciate it a bit more. I caught and euthanized one, before preceding to spend about 20 minutes checking it out under magnification. As happens basically every time I look at a bug up close, I was mesmerized by the beautiful patterns, hairs, and other details.

We’re still not friends, but after my self-assigned exercise in observation, I have a new admiration for this fearsome little predator.