The term “wasp” is a general description encompassing various insects, such as mud daubers, hornets, and paper wasps. Yellow jackets are a specific type of wasp that frequently causes confusion due to their close resemblance to other stinging insects. Understanding the distinction is helpful for identification and management, as the yellow jacket’s behavior and nesting habits differ significantly from their relatives.
Understanding the Classification
Yellow jackets fit within the scientific family Vespidae, a group that includes all social wasps. Yellow jackets are further narrowed down to the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. The common name “yellow jacket” is used in North America for members of these two genera, distinguishing them from other wasps like the Polistes genus, which includes paper wasps. Every yellow jacket is classified as a wasp, but the term “wasp” applies to many other insects in the family.
Distinct Physical Traits
Telling a yellow jacket from other wasps, such as the paper wasp, involves examining their body shape. Yellow jackets possess a stockier, more compact build with a very short connection between the thorax and the abdomen. This gives them a less defined “waist” compared to the slender, elongated body and distinct narrow petiole characteristic of a paper wasp. Yellow jackets generally measure between 3/8 to 5/8 inch long, making them slightly smaller than many common paper wasps, which can reach up to one inch in length.
The coloration of yellow jackets is a bright, distinct pattern of yellow and black stripes across the abdomen. While some wasps, like the European paper wasp, also exhibit yellow and black coloring, many other common wasps feature darker shades, such as reddish-brown or muted yellow bands. Another subtle difference is how they hold their wings at rest; yellow jackets fold their wings lengthwise over their back, but paper wasps hold their wings parallel to their body. When in flight, paper wasps often dangle their long legs visibly beneath their bodies, a behavior not seen in yellow jackets, which tuck their legs closer to their body.
Differences in Nesting and Temperament
The nesting location is a major distinction between yellow jackets and other wasps. Yellow jackets build their nests in hidden, enclosed spaces, such as underground in abandoned rodent burrows or within wall voids of structures. These nests are encased in a papery envelope, often having only a small, hard-to-spot entrance hole. In contrast, paper wasps construct an open, umbrella-shaped comb attached to exposed areas like eaves, porch ceilings, or tree branches.
Yellow jackets are highly aggressive and will readily sting, sometimes unprovoked, especially when defending their nest. Their diet includes scavenging for protein and sugary foods, drawing them to meat, fruit, and sweet drinks at outdoor events. Other common wasps, like the paper wasp, are generally less aggressive and primarily focus on hunting other insects for their young. They typically only sting when their immediate nest is directly disturbed.