How to Get Rid of Yellowjackets

Confirm you have yellowjackets

Before you treat anything, make sure you are really dealing with yellowjackets. Adults measure 10–16 mm (up to about 0.63 in) and are usually yellow and black. Look for these features:

• 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

They are most often confused with honey bee, paper wasp and bald-faced hornet. See the full yellowjacket profile for side-by-side details.

Why you have yellowjackets

Yellowjackets nest in sheltered spots close to food, water and building materials. Late-summer colonies are at their largest and most defensive. Sweet drinks, open trash and pet food attract foraging workers. They are most active in summer and fall, so expect to see more of them then.

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.

Step-by-step: getting rid of yellowjackets

Step 1: Keep lids on trash

Keep lids on trash and cover food and drinks outdoors. Repeat this for at least two to three weeks, since eggs and hidden insects keep appearing for a while.

Step 2: Hang yellowjacket traps in late summer away from seating areas

Hang yellowjacket traps in late summer away from seating areas. This is the step most people skip, and it is the one that makes the biggest difference.

Step 3: Have a professional remove ground or wall nests

Have a professional remove ground or wall nests. Combine this with the other steps rather than relying on it alone.

Natural and low-toxicity options

These methods work well alongside the steps above and keep chemical use to a minimum:

• Keep food and drinks covered outdoors.
• Use lidded trash cans and rinse recycling.
• Hang traps away from where people gather.
• Avoid swatting, which can provoke more stings.

If you do use a pesticide, choose one labeled for this pest and the place you're treating, and follow the label exactly. The label is the law.

When to call a professional

Never try to remove a large or hidden nest yourself, especially if you are allergic to stings. A pest professional has protective gear and can treat nests in walls or underground safely.

How to keep yellowjackets from coming back

• Inspect eaves, sheds and play sets in spring for small starter nests.
• Seal openings in siding and soffits.
• Fill in holes in lawns and garden beds.
• Wear shoes outdoors, especially on grass.

Safety notes

Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions