What’s the difference?

Key Points:

• Yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps are all types of wasps in the Vespidae family, but they differ in size, color patterns, behavior, and nesting habits, which affects how people should respond to them.
• Yellow jackets are the most aggressive, especially when scavenging for food or if their underground nests are disturbed, often leading to multiple painful stings; hornets are larger and more defensive near their aerial nests, while paper wasps are generally less aggressive.
• Nests differ by species: paper wasps build open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves; hornets create large, enclosed, football-shaped nests high in trees or structures; yellow jackets typically nest underground or in hidden cavities, making them harder to detect.
• For safety, nests in high-traffic areas or those belonging to yellow jackets or hornets should be handled by pest control professionals, especially if anyone is allergic to stings; protective clothing and careful timing are essential if attempting removal.
• Preventative measures include sealing entry points, covering food outdoors, cleaning fallen fruit, and installing screens on vents to reduce the likelihood of wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets establishing nests near homes.