Yellow Jackets
Vespula
General Information
- Yellow Jackets are aggressive scavengers, and they are often encountered during cookouts or other outdoor activities
- High numbers can also be found near trash receptacles and dumpsters
- Many people are stung when they step on hidden ground nests as they mow their lawn or perform other outdoor activities
- Yellow jackets are found throughout the southern regions of the Canadian provinces
- Yellow jackets can sting many times and do not usually die after stinging
- Once stung by a yellow jacket, an “Attack Pheromone” is released that excites nearby yellow jackets to also sting the victim
Size
12.7 to 19.05 millimetres long
Colour
Black and Yellow
Commonly mistaken for
Additional details
- Queens build nests underground, in aerial paper nests, or in hollow openings in buildings, such as the insides of soffits or under siding
- Yellow jackets are most often seen twice a year: in May, when the over-wintering queen emerges to start a new colony, and then again in July-October when foraging worker numbers are large
- Yellow jackets don’t go out of their way to bother humans, but when disturbed, they will sting as an attempt to defend their nest
- Some people can have severe allergic reactions to yellow jacket stings – these people should get immediate medical attention
- In the spring, place a trap along the perimeter of your yard to catch the queen and keep the new colony from establishing
- When eating outside, bring out the food just before you are ready to eat, cover it up during the meal, and put it back inside after eating
- Restrict access into the home by closing doors and windows
- Always look for yellow jackets before drinking from open beverage containers outdoors
- Make sure that all garbage containers are closed tightly and that recycled materials have been rinsed out before being put in the bin
Related products
Raid® Wasp & Hornet Bug Killer allows you to attack from a distance, killing the entire nest. It kills wasps and hornets on contact and is electrically non-conducting up to 41,000 volts. This product can be used to kill wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket nests, in trees or attached to buildings and sprays up to 5.7 m.