Yellowjacket
Bright yellow-black, smooth body, often nests in the ground
Individual
Swarm
Nest / Hive
Wing / Body Pattern
What It Is
Yellowjackets are social wasps, not bees, in the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula, and they are the most commonly encountered stinging insect in late-summer situations across Middle Tennessee. They are the insect most often mistaken for a bee by homeowners. Colonies peak in late summer and early fall and can reach tens of thousands in an established nest. Size: roughly 1/2 inch, compact and stocky.
How to Identify
Bright, high-contrast black and yellow banding. Smooth body with no body hair. A pronounced narrow waist. This is the insect most people picture when they say bee, but it is a wasp. Yellowjackets are drawn to outdoor food and garbage, foraging for protein and sugar, especially in late summer, while honeybees forage at flowers. If an insect is investigating your food or trash, it is almost certainly a yellowjacket. Nest: most commonly underground in a soil cavity, also in wall voids, crawl spaces, and attics. The nest itself is enclosed gray paper.
Behavior and Risk
Yellowjackets are highly defensive. They will sting without direct provocation if the nest is disturbed, and they respond quickly and in numbers. The alarm pheromone from one sting triggers others, and they can sting repeatedly. Disturbing a ground nest while mowing or stepping near the entry is the most common cause of mass yellowjacket stings. Late-summer colonies are at maximum size and workers are at peak defensiveness. Venom causes pain and local swelling, and allergic individuals face anaphylaxis risk.
How to Handle
If you discover a ground nest or a wall void nest, do not disturb it. Mark the area to keep people from getting close, keep pets away, and call us. If you accidentally disturb a ground nest, move away rapidly in a straight line, do not swat, and get indoors or into a vehicle.
Yellowjacket versus honeybee: yellowjackets are bright yellow-black, smooth, and often seen at food, while honeybees are amber-brown, fuzzy, and seen at flowers. If it is fuzzy, it is a bee. If it is smooth and bright yellow, it is a yellowjacket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are yellowjackets bees?
No. Yellowjackets are wasps. They do not build wax comb and are not a live bee relocation, but Beecasso still handles their nests. Send us a photo if you have one.
Why are yellowjackets so aggressive in late summer?
Colony size is at its annual peak and worker populations are at maximum. Workers become more active foragers and more defensive as the colony maximizes before the winter die-off.
What should I do about a yellowjacket nest in my lawn?
Do not disturb it. Mark the area so no one steps near it, keep pets away, and call us. Yellowjacket nests are most safely handled at night, when the workers are inside.
Does Beecasso remove yellowjackets?
Yes. Beecasso handles yellowjacket and hornet nests in addition to bees. If you are unsure whether you have yellowjackets or a honeybee colony, send us a photo and we will identify it for free.
Is a yellowjacket the same as a bee?
No. The fastest check: if it is fuzzy and amber-brown, it is a bee. If it is smooth and bright yellow-black, it is a yellowjacket. Yellowjackets are also commonly seen at food and garbage, where honeybees are not.