Species: Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons); Baldfaced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata); European hornet (Vespa crabro); Paper wasps (Polistes species)
Side by side
| Yellowjacket | Paper wasp | European hornet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3/8 to 5/8 inch, 10 to 16 mm | 5/8 inch to nearly 1 inch, 16 to 25 mm | 3/4 to 1 3/8 inches, 19 to 35 mm |
| Color | Black and yellow, patterns varying slightly by species | Yellow, brick reddish brown and near-black, generally less yellow than hornets and yellowjackets | Brick reddish brown with golden yellow abdomen and face, teardrop-shaped abdominal marks |
| Nest | Gray-brown paper envelope, usually hidden | Single exposed comb on a stalk, umbrella shaped, a few inches across | Tan-brown and relatively fragile, in a concealed cavity |
| Nest site | In the ground, in wall voids or sheds; some hang in dense shrubs | Under eaves, overhangs, window sills, railings or on plant stems | Hollow trees, barns, outbuildings, wall voids, attics |
| Peak colony size | Large nests may hold thousands of workers | Around 20 to 75 members | About 200 to 400 workers, larger nests over 1,000 |
| Behavior worth knowing | Scavenges human food; reputation for being easily agitated near a nest | Not as defensive as hornets and yellowjackets; may bump an intruder first | Flies at night and is drawn to lighted windows and porch lights |
What to look for
- Length. Yellowjackets 3/8 to 5/8 inch (10 to 16 mm), paper wasps 5/8 to nearly 1 inch (16 to 25 mm), baldfaced hornet workers 5/8 to 3/4 inch (16 to 19 mm) with queens just over an inch, European hornets 3/4 to 1 3/8 inches (19 to 35 mm).
- Color. Yellowjackets black and yellow, baldfaced hornets black and white with a white face, European hornets brick reddish brown with golden yellow on the abdomen and distinctive teardrop-shaped abdominal marks.
- Legs in flight. Maryland notes paper wasps have relatively long legs and may look larger in flight because those legs dangle.
- Antennae. The European paper wasp has mostly orange antennae, which is unique among paper wasps and separates it from a similarly patterned yellowjacket.
- The nest, which is often the clearest mark. Paper wasp nests are a single exposed comb on a central stalk, umbrella shaped and usually a few inches across, while yellowjacket and hornet nests are enclosed in a gray-brown paper envelope.
- Where the nest sits. Yellowjackets use old rodent burrows, wall voids or sheds, baldfaced hornets hang theirs in the open from a branch or a building overhang, and European hornets use concealed hollows such as trees, attics and wall voids.
Where and when
Maryland extension says social wasp colonies last a single year and die off each winter, with only fertilized queens overwintering and old nests never reused. A queen starts alone in spring, workers take over through summer, and the nest reaches its largest number by late summer or early autumn. NC State notes yellowjackets become picnic and trash-can pests late in that season.
Does it matter?
Maryland extension says social wasps prey on caterpillars, flies and beetle larvae, scavenge carrion and pollinate while foraging, and calls them beneficial. It also says they sting when a nest is disturbed or an individual feels threatened, and that unlike honey bees they can sting repeatedly. If you are stung and feel unwell, or you know you react to stings, contact a doctor or poison control. Maryland's advice is to leave nests alone.
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