Yellowjacket Larvae

The larvae of the yellowjacket, called me'lñayu (Elena McCauley or Nick Villa Sr.), were also eaten. The finding of the yellowjacket nest involved following a yellowjacket to it. A grasshopper leg was used as bait and a dry pod of Holcus lanatus (hesnila, C) was attached to the grasshopper leg. As the yellowjacket flew off with the marked grasshopper leg, it was possible to follow its flight because of the easy visibility of the dry pod. [Barrett & Gifford]

Nicolas Villa Sr. remembered gathering yellowjacket larvae as a kid. He said they lit newspaper on fire and used the newspaper to smoke the nest to drive the yellowjackets away to get the nest for the larvae.