Blackjacket - Vespula consobrina
What a perfect name for this insect specie! This energetic specimen was found by my dear friend in Squamish flying around his office. It seemed to have flown in through an open door to try and beat the summer heat, only to be captured and returned outside. Its a lovely find, especially considering it's a new specie for the blog and it's found in most of Canada. While tempting to identify it as a Bald-Faced Hornet, this insect is actually somewhat distant from that one, if only in terms of classification. Specifically, the Blackjacket Wasp is classified in the Vespula genus, same as the many species of Yellowjacket. Meanwhile, Bald-Faced Hornets fit into the Dolichovespula genus, hinting at their longer faces compared to the more traditional Yellowjackets. To distinguish between the two in the field, it's not enough for one specie to have a longer face than the other; what's more important is the distance between the bottom of the eye and the mandible. If those two parts are nearly touching, you have a Blackjacket, and the same goes if the dark Wasp's facial markings also allow for the showcasing of more white that is undivided. The freeze-fame below should provide as good a view as possible for these observations. Since Blackjackets can sting if they feel threatened, containment (such as the jar here) might be best to get a close look at their face. Until I see one for myself, I can only speculate that their normal behaviors is similar to Yellowjackets, so perhaps keep your distance and allow them their room to maneuver while you observe them foraging or hunting among flowers.
Video was recorded on June 13, 2024 in Squamish with an iPhone X. You can also find this video on YouTube now as of July 27, 2025.