Yellow Jackets
(Vespula spp.)
Aggressive, ground-nesting wasps with black-and-yellow bands that are attracted to food at outdoor events.
Overview
Yellow jackets are among the most aggressive and dangerous stinging insects in Bowling Green. They are social wasps that build large colonies — often underground — that can contain thousands of workers by late summer. Unlike honeybees, yellow jackets can sting multiple times. They are strongly attracted to sugary drinks, meats, and ripe fruit, making them a major problem at barbecues, picnics, and outdoor events. Their ground-level nests are especially hazardous because they are easily disturbed by foot traffic and lawn mowing.
Appearance
Yellow jackets are compact, stout-bodied wasps about 3/8 to 5/8 inch long with distinctive bright yellow and black banding on the abdomen. They have a well-defined, narrow waist. Their wings fold laterally when at rest. They are often mistaken for honeybees, but yellow jackets are sleeker, less hairy, and brighter in color.
Habitat
Most yellow jacket species nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows, under stones, or in soil cavities. Some species build aerial nests in wall voids, attics, shrubs, or under eaves. A mature underground nest can be the size of a basketball or larger. They are found in yards, parks, playgrounds, and around trash receptacles.
Diet
Yellow jackets are omnivorous. Workers feed on sugary substances like nectar, fruit juice, and soda, and they hunt insects to feed protein to developing larvae. In late summer and fall, as the colony's brood production declines, workers become more aggressive in scavenging for sweets and meats at outdoor gatherings.
Lifecycle
Fertilized queens overwinter underground or in sheltered spaces. In spring, a queen selects a nesting site and raises the first generation of workers alone. The colony grows through summer, reaching peak size (2,000 to 4,000 workers) by late August. In fall, new queens and males are produced. After mating, new queens find overwintering sites, and the rest of the colony dies with the first hard freeze.
Signs of Infestation
- !Yellow jackets entering and exiting a hole in the ground or a gap in a wall
- !Increased wasp activity around outdoor food, trash cans, or recycling bins
- !Aggressive wasps hovering around during outdoor meals
- !A buzzing sound coming from an underground or wall void nest
Prevention Tips
- ✓Keep outdoor trash cans tightly sealed and empty them frequently
- ✓Avoid leaving sweet drinks or food uncovered outdoors
- ✓Fill in abandoned rodent burrows in the yard
- ✓Inspect the yard before mowing and be alert for ground nests
- ✓Consider setting yellow jacket traps around the perimeter of outdoor gathering areas
Professional Treatment
Professional yellow jacket treatment is strongly recommended due to the danger of stings. Technicians treat underground nests by applying dust or liquid products directly into the nest entrance at dusk or dawn when workers are inside. Wall void nests may require dust injection through a small drilled hole. The nest entrance is monitored for several days to confirm elimination. Attempting to treat yellow jacket nests without professional equipment and protection is dangerous and not recommended.
Did You Know?
- •A yellow jacket colony can contain over 4,000 workers by late summer.
- •Unlike honeybees, yellow jackets can sting multiple times without dying.
- •They are attracted to the color blue and can become aggressive around bright clothing.
- •In warmer climates, some yellow jacket colonies can survive winter and grow to enormous sizes.
3/8 to 5/8 inch
Black and bright yellow banding
6
Stout, defined waist, compact
Meat bee, Ground hornet
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Other Stinging Insects in Our Library
Paper Wasps
Slender wasps that build small, open-celled paper nests under eaves and overhangs.
Bald-Faced Hornets
Large, black-and-white hornets that build large, enclosed paper nests in trees and on buildings.
Mud Daubers
Solitary wasps that build distinctive tube-shaped mud nests on walls and under overhangs.
Carpenter Bees
Large, bumblebee-like bees that bore perfectly round holes into wood decks, fascia, and eaves.