Yellow Jacket
Category: Stinging
Scientific Name: Vespula spp.
Identification:
Color: Black and yellow patterned
Size: ⅜ – ⅝ inch long
Region: Found throughout the United States
Lifespan: 12-22 days
Important Considerations:
- Yellow jackets can be found anywhere where humans are. They love to eat protein and sweets, so they are often unwanted guests at outdoor picnics or potlucks.
- The sting of a yellow jacket is painful and can be dangerous. Stinging insects (including yellow jackets) account for over 500,000 emergency room visits each year.
- Although yellow jackets are not outwardly aggressive towards humans, if you approach their nest they will sting you repeatedly. For this reason, removing yellow jacket nests on your own is a dangerous decision.
Where to Find Them on Your Property?
If you have yellow jackets nesting on your property, you will likely see them flying around your home and yard. If you notice this, it is important to locate where their nest is. Yellow jackets build nests out of cellulose, and typically choose to bury them underground or hang them in spacious areas such as overhangs or attics.