Vespula

• While most species of this genus inhabit North America, four Vespula species inhabit Europe, namely V. austriaca, V. germanica, V. rufa, and V. vulgaris. • Two common European species, the German wasp (V. germanica) and the common wasp (V. vulgaris), have established in other countries; both species are now found in New Zealand, Australia, and South America, while the former has also been introduced in South America, and the latter in Southern Africa. • The eastern yellowjacket (V. maculifrons) and western yellowjacket (V. pensylvanica) are native to North America. ==Species==

• Vespula acadica (Sladen, 1918) – forest yellowjacket • Vespula akrei Landolt, 2010 • Vespula alascensis Packard, 1870 – Alaska yellowjacket • Vespula koreensis (Rad., 1887) • Vespula maculifrons (Buysson, 1905) – eastern yellowjacket • Vespula nursei Archer, 1981 • Vespula squamosa (Drury, 1770) – southern yellowjacket • Vespula structor (Smith, 1870) • Vespula sulphurea (Saussure, 1854) – California yellowjacket • Vespula vidua (Saussure, 1854) – long yellowjacket or widow yellowjacket • Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) – common wasp, common yellowjacket See also: • Paravespula, a subgenus of Vespula ==Venom==

The venom of Vespula is mostly composed of antigen 5, hyaluronidase, and phospholipase. Immunology A high degree of similarity occurs between immunogenic fractions of different Vespula species. Rabbit serum antibodies are unable to distinguish between them. ==References==