Do Yellowjackets Sting? Are They Dangerous?
Short answer: the yellowjacket can cause medically significant bites, stings or disease. Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.
Risk rating: Health risk
Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.
Are yellowjackets dangerous to humans?
Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.
On our four-level scale, the yellowjacket is rated health risk, meaning it can cause medically significant bites, stings or disease. Yellowjackets can sting, so it is worth handling them with care.
Are they dangerous to pets?
Yellowjackets can bite or sting curious pets that paw at them or try to eat them. Watch for swelling, drooling or limping, and call your veterinarian right away if your pet has trouble breathing or a large reaction.
Can they damage your home or garden?
Yellowjackets don't damage homes, though nests in walls or eaves are a stinging hazard.
What to do if you are stung
- Move away from the area to avoid more stings.
- If a stinger is left in the skin, scrape it out sideways with a fingernail or card.
- Wash with soap and water and apply a cold pack.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever or antihistamine if needed, following the label.
Call 911 right away if someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness or a racing heartbeat after a bite or sting.
Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.
How to identify yellowjackets
A sleek, bright yellow-and-black wasp that nests underground or in wall voids. Late-summer workers scavenge for sweets and meat and are drawn to picnics and trash cans.
- Smooth, shiny yellow and black body with little hair
- Narrow waist and wings folded lengthwise at rest
- Rapid side-to-side flight near nest entrances
| Scientific name | Vespula maculifrons |
|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps |
| Size | 10–16 mm (up to about 0.63 in) |
| Colors | Yellow and Black |
| Legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes |
| Where found | Lawn or grass, Yard or patio and Garden or plants |
| Most active | Summer and Fall |
| Bites | No |
| Stings | Yes |
| Risk level | Health risk |
When you'll see yellowjackets
Yellowjackets are most active in summer and fall. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly. In fall, many bugs look for shelter, and some move toward or into buildings.
Typical places to check: lawn or grass, yard or patio and garden or plants.
About bees & wasps
The yellowjacket is one of the bees & wasps. Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.
Social wasp colonies grow all summer and are largest and most defensive in late summer and early fall. Most colonies die off in winter, leaving only new queens to start over in spring.
How to avoid problems with yellowjackets
- Keep lids on trash and cover food and drinks outdoors
- Hang yellowjacket traps in late summer away from seating areas
- Have a professional remove ground or wall nests
Frequently asked questions
Do yellowjackets bite?
No. Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.
Do yellowjackets sting?
Yes, they can sting.
Are yellowjackets poisonous?
The yellowjacket can cause medically significant bites, stings or disease. Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.
Where do yellowjackets live?
Yellowjackets are usually found in lawns and grass, in yards and on patios and in gardens and on plants, and are most active in summer and fall.