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Yellowjacket Wasp (Vespidae) Control
- Don't call 'em bees! -
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Summary: Yellowjacket wasps are social insects that live in large colonies organized by a queen wasp. All worker yellowjackets are daughters of the queen. Colonies, and nests, usually start in the spring, grow through summer then die off in the fall. Colonies are most dangerous in late summer and early fall when colonies are at their peak size.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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 These pages will help you get rid of dangerous or threatening yellowjacket wasp nests and reduce the potential for stings from these insects.
Wasp identification
Yellowjacket wasps are medium size (~1/2") distinctive black and yellow insects (see photo right), some species such as the misnamed "baldfaced hornet", however, are white over black. Yellowjackets maintain relatively large colonies inside an a completely enclosed nest. Paper wasps, on the other hand, make an open face nest in which the individual cells are clearly visible (see The European Paper Wasp).
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yellowjacket, or social, wasp
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Common misspellings and misnomers for yellowjackets: yellow jackets, bees, hornets, ground hornets, garbage bees
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Yellowjacket wasps (Vespula spp.) are sometimes called simply "wasps", "social wasps" or "social vespids". The common names we use for wasps can be very confusing. The most common social wasps that cause problems for people worldwide are discussed below. These wasps make large, papery nests either below ground or above ground. Some species have adopted a scavenger habit that brings them into contact with people that makes them more dangerous.
There are many species of yellowjackets but most people only encounter the scavenger species. Scavenger species feed on both living and non-living prey so are drawn to any food within their search area such as a dead animal, fallen tree fruit or our picnic food. These species also tend to build larger and thus more threatening nests. Most social wasp species, on the other hand, are strictly predatory and have no interest in our picnic food or fruit trees (see What Are Scavenger Yellowjackets?).
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Yellowjacket colony life
Yellowjacket wasps live in large colonies dominated by a queen. Colonies start in the spring when the queen emerges from winter dormancy. Once she rears a few workers (female offspring) the queen no longer leaves the nest. Colonies grow throughout summer, reach maximum size by fall then begin to decline. Most nests die out before winter. Only mated queens survive until the following spring.
Colonies become aggressive in late summer
Wasps can be particularly aggressive in late summer when colonies reach maximum size. This aggression is generally associated with colony defense but wasp stings can occur away from the nest as well. If you get stung, get moving! When yellowjackets sting they may leave behind a small amount of chemical marker that identifies you as an enemy of the nest. For this reason you should quickly leave the area after being stung before other wasps have a chance to swarm.
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Wasp control
In late summer and early fall it may be necessary to control wasp nests that threaten outdoor activities such as gardening or picnicing. While some wasp traps can be used to temporarily displace worker activity the best approach is to control individual wasp nests (see How To Safely Control Dangerous Wasp Nests).
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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.
Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.
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Copyright © 2004-... LivingWithBugs, LLC. All rights reserved. Page Updated: 2/10/2010
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