Technical Abstract: Wasps of the subfamily Vespinae are commonly referred to as yellowjackets and hornets. In proper usage, the term yellowjacket refers to all members of the genus Vespula Thomson and Dolichovespula Rohwer whereas the term hornet refers to members of the Old World genera Vespa L. This group of social insects is of importance to man as both beneficial predators of pest insects and as pestiferous scavengers. Despite their likely widespread and recurring pest status little information is available on the abundance, distribution, or seasonality of social wasps in Alaska. In this paper we present data on species composition, distribution, and pest status of eight species of wasp collected in Fairbanks, Delta Junction, and Palmer, Alaska using attractant baited traps. Ten species of yellowjackets were collected: Vespula vulgaris L., V. acadica (Sladen), V. consobrina (Saussure), V. rufa (L.) (=intermedia [Buysson]), V. austriaca (Panzer), Dolichovespula maculata (L.), D. arenaria (F.), D. norwegica (= albida [Sladen]), D. adulterina (Buysson), and D. norvegicoides (Sladen). The potentially pestiferous species V. vulgaris was collected in the greatest abundance.