What Are Different Types of Wasps?
Wasps are stinging insects you may have encountered while outdoors. They sometimes build nests underground, on the sides of houses or buildings, or in foliage. Depending on the species, they may fly around solo (solitary wasps) or be more likely to be found in colonies (social wasps).
From yellow jackets that disturb your picnic to mud daubers that want to focus on nest-building, here are the wasps you should know about in the United States.
WHAT ARE WASPS?
Wasps are members of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita. Some sting, while others do not.
These insects may be predatory, scavengers, or parasites. They usually have a petiole, which is a thin, thread-like waist between the thorax and abdomen. All wasps have stingers, even if they don’t use them.
Most wasps are solitary, but some are social and live in colonies. For example, yellowjackets are a common example of social wasps. They live in a colony and will work together to defend themselves if they feel threatened.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON WASPS?
There are both social and solitary wasps in the United States. Some wasps are called “hornets” because of their size and eating habits, but all hornets actually fall into the wasp category.
There are tens of thousands of wasp species around the world; however, there are six species seen regularly throughout the U.S. that you should be aware of.
PAPER WASPS
WHAT DO PAPER WASPS LOOK LIKE?
Paper wasps (Polistes spp.) are primarily brown, but some have yellow or red markings. They’re small, usually no more than ¾ inches.
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
These wasps are found all over the U.S. They often make their homes in residential areas and yards, which is where people come into contact with them.
OTHER PEST FACTS
Paper wasps make nests from tree bark and plant fibers. If they pick up colored paper while building the nest, it’s possible that the nest could be bright and colorful rather than gray or brown like usual.
Paper wasps are social wasps that live in colonies.
YELLOWJACKETS
WHAT DO YELLOWJACKETS LOOK LIKE?
Yellowjackets (Vespula maculifrons) are around ⅜ to ⅝ inches long. They are black with yellow stripes from top to bottom.
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
Yellowjackets live all over the country. You’ll find them abundantly in the southeastern U.S.
OTHER PEST FACTS
Yellowjackets cause around half of all wasp stings in humans. They’ll even bite and hold on to get a better grip before they sting—this makes them a particularly nasty species to come into contact with.
As social wasps, yellowjackets live in colonies.
MUD DAUBERS
WHAT DO MUD DAUBERS LOOK LIKE?
There are a few species of mud daubers, such as the open pipe mud dauber (Trypoxylon politum) and blue mud dauber (Chalybion californicum). They normally have thread waists, meaning they have an extremely thin segment running between the abdomen and thorax. They can have clear or dark wings. They are also usually black, but some look metallic blue.
For example, the black-and-yellow mud dauber can have orangish-red wings, while the blue mud dauber looks almost black with a blue sheen.
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
They’re found all over the U.S. People usually don’t even know they’re around unless they’ve happened upon a nest. These wasps are solitary, so they don’t usually hang around with other mud daubers.
OTHER PEST FACTS
Mud dauber nests are small and made up of mud tubes that are usually only around an inch long. If you find a mud dauber nest filled with holes, it’s likely to be inactive. As the wasps abandon their nest, they destroy it, leaving holes in their wake.
Don’t be quick to take down the nests, though, because there is a risk that a more dangerous or aggressive wasp species has taken over the old home. It’s best to leave removal to the professionals.
BALD-FACED HORNETS
WHAT DO BALD-FACED HORNETS LOOK LIKE?
A bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) is unique in that it has white markings on its face and at the rear of the abdomen. The markings look a bit like a skull.
These wasps can get up to around ½ to ¾ inches long, depending on whether they are workers or queens (queens are usually larger).
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
These wasps live all throughout the U.S.
OTHER PEST FACTS
While the bald-faced hornet is called a hornet, it actually isn’t one. It’s a wasp, but people call it a hornet due to its aggressiveness. This social wasp lives in colonies.
EUROPEAN HORNETS
WHAT DO EUROPEAN HORNETS LOOK LIKE?
European hornets (Vespa crabro) have red-and-brown heads, a reddish-brown or black thorax, and a black-and-yellow striped abdomen. There are also a few spots that look like teardrops on the tail end of the abdomen, which is what helps you tell this wasp apart from the Asian giant hornet.
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
European hornets live primarily in the eastern U.S. They also can make their homes throughout the midwest, reaching as far as the Dakotas and as far south as Florida.
OTHER PEST FACTS
European hornets are, interestingly, nocturnal wasps. That means that you could see one flying around your porch lights at night.
CICADA KILLERS
WHAT DO CICADA KILLERS LOOK LIKE?
Cicada killers (Sphecius speciosus and Sphecius convallis) look similar to a very large yellowjacket or a giant hornet. They are around 2 inches long.
A cicada killer has black, dark brown, and yellow markings. The wings are amber, which can help set them apart from other insects.
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
Cicada killers live all over the U.S. Sphecius speciosus lives in the eastern parts of the country, most notably east of the Rock Mountains. Sphecius convallis is primarily in the western states, such as California.
OTHER PEST FACTS
Cicada killers are solitary wasps that are more interested in killing cicadas for their young than attacking people. Though solitary, they can damage or disturb the sand or soil in lawns, and there is a potential for females to sting.
ARE WASPS AGGRESSIVE?
Did you know that there are over 4,000 wasp species in the United States alone? There are all different types, ranging from those who want to stay away from you to those who wouldn’t mind munching on your picnic dinner.
Not all wasps are the same when it comes to their overall level of aggression. However, remember that all wasps (with very few exceptions) can sting and become aggressive under the right circumstances.
It’s not advisable to try to remove a wasp nest on your own. If you see a wasp, leave it alone and retreat to a safe place. Then, reach out for help getting rid of them by speaking with our field experts.
| TYPE OF WASP
|
CAN IT BE AGGRESSIVE?
|
| Paper Wasp |
Paper wasps can be aggressive when defending their nests. They will attack and sting.
|
| Yellowjacket |
Yellowjackets are arguably the most aggressive species, as they cause a majority of the wasp stings that happen. There is seemingly no rhyme or reason to their stinging patterns—some will sting because they feel like it. Others will sting because they feel threatened, even if no one is near their nest. These wasps can sting repeatedly because they don’t lose their stingers after injecting their prey. Sometimes, these stings trigger allergic reactions in people. On top of this, the wasp that stings you can release pheromones, signaling other members of the yellowjacket colony to come join the fray. You, or the victim of the original sting, could then be in danger of being attacked by multiple yellowjackets.
|
| Mud Dauber |
They aren’t particularly aggressive, though they can sting just like other wasp species. They don’t defend their nests, so stings happen rarely.
|
| Bald-faced Hornet |
Bald-faced hornets are known for being aggressive. They will approach if they smell food or perfume, making them a risk to humans.
|
| European Hornet |
European hornets aren’t particularly aggressive, but they do have the potential to sting if they’re bothered. Their sting is comparable to that of a honeybee. The stinger is smooth, so it is not as damaging as some other insect stings can be.
|
| Cicada Killer |
Cicada killers are the least aggressive wasps on this list. Males cannot sting but may dive at people. Females can, but rarely, sting. Generally speaking, these wasps don’t tend to sting unless they’re handled.
|
Although not all wasps are considered aggressive, they can become aggressive when threatened no matter the species. Except for the rare males without stingers, there is always a risk of an attack and getting stung if you mishandle or threaten a wasp.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SEE WASPS?
First, remember that most wasps usually only sting if they feel threatened. If you’re cautious about avoiding them, most will leave you alone. The exception to the rule tends to be yellowjackets, which can be unpredictable in the best of circumstances. Even then, most won’t turn on you unless you’re swatting at them or are too close to the nest.
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Wasps make ground and aerial nests, so be aware of your surroundings. If you see a growing number of wasps or have recently been stung by one as you went about your business, then it may be time to call in professional help and get rid of the wasps as soon as you can.
AVOID GETTING STUNG
You can take steps to avoid getting stung by a wasp when outdoors:
- Avoid swatting at wasps when they’re near you since this kind of aggression could lead to the wasp attacking.
- Wear shoes when you go out into your yard so you avoid stepping on any wasps on the ground.
- Avoid areas where you know a nest is present to prevent stings from aggressive species.
- Wear baggy clothes if you’ll be around wasps since they’re less likely to sting through the clothing.
- Avoid brightly colored clothing, which might draw attention from wasps looking for food.
- Stay calm if a wasp lands on you. Most will simply fly away rather than biting or stinging.
- Don’t touch nests that you find. Contact a professional to get rid of them.
If you do get stung and the wasp is still alive, move away from the area without swatting or flailing. If you run, swat, or flail at the wasps, they’re more likely to continue attacking. Some species, like yellowjackets, release pheromones when threatened. Those pheromones can cause a larger group of wasps to attack. If possible, get inside and shut your windows and doors to get away and allow the swarm to calm back down.
If any wasp left a stinger in you, remove it by scraping it out with a sideways motion toward the entry wound so it can exit the way it entered. If you feel ill or have an allergy, call 911 immediately.
PREPARE FOR NEST REMOVALS
If you continue to have problems with wasps, are allergic, or simply don’t want them around, our team of experts can inspect and remove these stinging pests. It’s not a good idea to try to remove wasp nests on your own because there is a risk of wasps attacking when they feel threatened. Our field experts have the tools, experience, and gear to remove nests securely.
Since most species are less active during the evening, our professionals will often come for nest removals either early in the morning or closer to sunset. The wasps will not only be more docile, but also more of them are likely to be in the nest so we can remove as many wasps as possible at once.
GET RID OF WASPS WITH MOXIE PEST CONTROL
At Moxie Pest Control, we know how frightening wasps can be and why people don’t want them around their homes, family, and pets. Even if you’re not sure what kind of wasp you’re dealing with, we’re happy to help you identify the species and get rid of them so you can restore your peace of mind. Give us a call today to learn more about your pest control options.
SOURCES
- https://extension.umd.edu/resource/yellowjackets
- https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/stinging-insects/paper-wasps/
- https://www.clemson.edu/extension/beekeepers/fact-sheets-publications/yellow-jackets.html
- http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/yellow_jacket_712.html
- https://www.healthline.com/health/mud-dauber-sting
- https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/stinging-insects/open-pipe-mud-daubers/
- https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/stinging-insects/bald-faced-hornets/
- https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/stinging-insects/european-hornet/
- https://extension.psu.edu/european-hornet
- https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef004
- https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/cicada-killer-wasps
- https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-254/E-254.html
- https://extension.umd.edu/resource/european-hornets
- https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home-family/lookout-for-yellow-jackets-outdoor-stinging-insects/
- https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/04/rainbow-wasps/
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/wasp
- https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7449.html
- https://foter.com/19-types-of-wasps-explained-and-easy-guide-on-spotting-them
- https://www.iflscience.com/heres-what-to-do-if-attacked-by-swarm-wasps-bees-49482
- https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/social-wasps
- http://extension.cropsciences.illinois.edu/ornamental/insects/yellowjackets/
- https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/mud-daubers/
Author Bio
Courtney Enzor has worked in the pest control industry for about a decade. From helping you build a fly trap to giving you the best tips for identifying various bugs, she loves answering all your pest-related questions and sharing her pest-related expertise through writing. At the end of the day, she hopes her content will help people avoid mishaps and keep families happy and healthy!
