Throughout the Treasure Valley, many residents can’t tell the difference between a paper wasp from a yellowjacket. See the image on this blog and the pointers below to help you in telling them apart:
Paper Wasps: Have slender, segmented bodies with a thin waist. Paper wasps also have orange-tipped antennae.
Yellowjackets: Have shorter and thicker bodies. Yellowjackets have completely black antennae.
Paper wasps while flying: They dangle their legs when they fly.
Yellowjackets while flying: They tuck their legs under their bodies when they fly.
Paper wasp nests: Their nests resemble an open honeycomb or upside-down umbrella. They build their nests in a variety of places around a home or man-made structures such as eaves or under lawn furniture.
Yellowjacket nests: Their nests have a single opening that is often hard to see because their nest could be underground, wall voids, under rocks, or some even build exposed ones under eaves of houses.
Paper wasp behavior: They feed on ripe fruit on trees and can be found foraging for nectar on flowers. They are often found along wooden fence line or wood piles scraping the wood from where they make their nests from.
Yellowjacket behavior: They are drawn to meat, juices, sweet liquids, and fruit -they are commonly seen flying around picnic food. They also forage around flowers in search for other insects.
Paper wasp aggression: They are generally docile and avoid humans. They will sting if they feel threatened when they are on their nest and they feel disturbed. They can sting repeatedly.
Yellowjacket aggression: They are move aggressive than paper wasps. They aggressively defend their nest, but will also sting unprovoked. When they attack they usually swarm.
If you plan on removing a nest on your own but are unsure how to proceed, consult with a professional at Armis Pest Management. We recommend that homeowners do not attempt to remove yellowjackets nest on their own without the proper protective equipment. Not having the proper protective equipment when removing a yellowjackets’ nest can be dangerous and even fatal to individuals allergic to stings.
