The most important thing you need to know about wasps and yellowjackets is that they both sting, and can do so repeatedly. These aggressive, stinging insects fly, and often build colonies near dwellings. Yellowjackets are generally more aggressive than wasps, and wasps will often be seen feeding on weathered wood. But both of these insects (both of which are technically wasps) pose a threat to you and your family.
Some of these bugs’ habits can be beneficial to the humans living nearby, like eating other threatening insect species — but they’re very hostile and their stings hurt. It’s easy to confuse wasps and yellowjackets, when, in fact, yellowjackets actually are a type of wasp. Here are some ways you can tell the differences between these two types of wasps.
Similarities between wasps and yellowjackets
There are two types of wasps: solitary and social. The wasps that you see swarming around at your barbeque, also known as paper wasps, are social. Yellowjackets and paper wasps are both social wasps and build colonies, and both are pretty likely to sting you.
Wasps and yellowjackets live in colonies with one queen, and their wings fold down along their backs. They also build nests out of materials they’ve recycled from other sources, and can sting (and bite!) multiple times in a row. Both wasps and yellowjackets are attracted to sweet liquids and sugary substances like soda or fruit. Yellowjackets love all things you might find at a picnic table, including grilled meats.
Solitary wasps do not live in colonies, and rarely sting humans. Homeowners, when they’ve found an infestation of wasps, are usually dealing with social wasps, not the solitary types.
Differences between wasps and yellowjackets
Correctly identifying your pest is the first step to ridding yourself of their presence. Here are some basic characteristics of these common stinging insects. Whether you have paper wasps or yellowjackets, there are steps you can take to make sure you’re no longer threatened by their bites or stings.
- Paper wasps: These flying bugs like to build umbrella-shaped nests in window casings or eaves, and live in colonies that number fewer than 100 insects. These wasps are about an inch long, and their coloring ranges from reddish-orange to dark brown to black with yellow highlights. When they fly, their legs dangle.
- Yellowjackets: When these insects fly, they tuck their legs against their bodies. They’re often mistaken for bees due to their small size (about half an inch long) and their yellow stripes, which are very similar to those on honey bees. Yellowjackets build enclosed nests underground with a single opening
- Bald-faced hornets: Averaging three-quarters of an inch long, these hornets are more closely related to yellowjackets than they are to European hornets. They have black-bodies with gray stripes and live in enclosed nests hanging from sturdy tree branches in colonies made of up to 100 individuals.
What you can do about them
If you’ve been seeing some flying pests on your property, that may be because you have some of their favorite things — other pests, ceilings or overhangs, indoor shelters or weathered wood.
- Other pests: If you’ve noticed lots of other pests on your property, then you may see wasps and yellowjackets turn up, as other insects are some of their favorite foods.
- Ceilings and overhangs: Wasps love to build their nests in a protected spot like an eave or the corner of your ceiling on your porch or patio.
- Indoor shelters: Wasps look for a spot that may have access to an indoor area so, when winter comes, the queen can seek shelter. Areas with cracks or holes in the walls are ideal nesting spots for wasps and yellowjackets.
- Weathered wood: Paper wasps especially love weathered wood as they chew off bits and scrape off splinters to build their nests.
These types of social wasps will start to sting and bite if you disturb their nests. They are especially rambunctious in late summer, when they might sting you simply for being too close. This is especially difficult with yellowjacket nests as they’re often located underground. If you can see where the insects are burrowing, it’s best to avoid these areas.
Of the two, yellowjackets are more aggressive and can be prone to swarm behavior when provoked. These insects will sting when protecting their nests but will also sting or bite unprovoked. If you know you’re going to be around wasps’ nests, be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants, and even tuck your cuffs into your socks.
If you encounter wasps, you should try to remain as calm as possible until the wasps fly off. Also, keep an eye on any sugary drinks. All kinds of wasps like sugary drinks, and you especially have to watch the interior of soda cans as sometimes wasps will crawl inside.
The best remedy for both of these types of wasps is to call in pest control professionals to rid you of their presence once and for all. At Home Pros makes it easy for you to find a professional who knows how to get rid of either wasps or yellowjackets with a few easy steps. So, if you’re having problems with these aggressive pests, it’s time to get help — fast. Contact At Home Pros today.
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