# Yellowjacket

*Vespula spp. and Dolichovespula spp.*

**Identification confidence:** Identifiable with care — The hairless, sharply patterned body separates wasps from bees reliably, and the distinction matters.

## How to recognise it

- Bright, sharply defined yellow and black banding with a smooth, hairless, glossy body. A honey bee is fuzzy and duller golden-brown by comparison — this is the key separator.
- The waist is narrow and clearly pinched, and the wings fold longitudinally along the body at rest.
- Legs are tucked close to the body in flight, unlike a paper wasp's dangling legs.
- The body measures 10 to 16 mm, smaller and more compact than a paper wasp, with the abdomen tapering to a blunt point rather than a long stalk.

## What it leaves behind

- Nests in the ground, in wall voids, in attics, and in dense shrubs, with a steady stream of traffic in and out of a single opening.
- Aggressive interest in food and drink outdoors in late summer, which honey bees do not show.

## Why an infestation persists

Colonies grow through the season and peak in late summer and early autumn, which is when nearly all stings occur and when the insects switch to seeking sugars and protein from human food. They sting repeatedly rather than once, and disturbing a ground or wall-void nest triggers a coordinated defensive response. Colonies die off in winter in most of the country and the nest is not reused.


## Where it occurs

Throughout the United States.

## What prevents it

- Keep refuse bins closed and clean, and cover food and sweet drinks outdoors in late summer.
- Check the ground and shrubs for traffic before mowing or trimming.
- Seal gaps at the roofline, in siding, and around utility entries in spring, before colonies establish.

## Commonly confused with

- **Honey bee** (*Apis mellifera*) — Body is densely covered in fine hairs, giving a fuzzy appearance, and the colouring is muted golden-brown to amber with darker bands rather than bright yellow.
- **Paper wasp** (*Polistes spp.*) — Long, slender body with a very narrow waist, 16 to 25 mm, usually brown with yellow or reddish markings.

**Verdict:** professional-recommended. A nest in a wall void or in the ground near an entrance is a genuine stinging hazard, defensive response is coordinated, and the risk is severe for anyone with a hymenoptera allergy.


Source: https://againstpest.shop/identify/stinging-insects/yellowjacket/