Yellow Jacket
Vespula spp.
About the yellow jacket
Yellow jackets are the aggressive yellow-and-black wasps that crash your summer picnic and pursue you when you walk near their nest. They scavenge sweets and meats — which is why they're attracted to outdoor dining — and they sting repeatedly without dying. Nests are typically underground in old rodent burrows, but also in wall voids and attics. Sting allergies can be life-threatening. Never try to remove a mature nest yourself; call a licensed professional for treatment at dusk.
Quick ID
10–16 mm sleek (not hairy) body with sharp yellow-and-black bands.
In the Triangle
Peaks August through October across the Triangle; old chipmunk and groundhog burrows are common nest sites.
Think you have yellow jackets?
Free inspection from a licensed Castle Exterminators technician — Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary & the Triangle. We'll confirm the species and recommend a treatment plan.
Request Free Inspection (919) 606-8686
