The wasp family Vespidae contains over 30,000 species, but only a few are common pests in human dwellings. The most well-known is the yellow jacket (Vespula spp.), and there are two main types of it: “true” or ground-nesting yellow jackets and their more aggressive cousins known as aerial yellow jackets.
This blog post will discuss both kinds of wasps in detail so that you can recognize them and take action to prevent problems with these stinging insects.
Yellow Jacket Wasp
Yellow Jackets are a type of wasp that is often mistaken for bees. Yellow jacket wasps can be identified by the black and yellow stripes on their abdomen. They will typically construct an open nest made from paper or resin in trees, bushes, lawns, and other areas where ground surfaces meet structures. However, the major difference between these two insects is that the honey bee has branched hairs on its body while the yellow jacket has single-strand hair, which is smooth.
Yellow jacket wasps are social wasps that live in colonies and reach adulthood within a year. They feed on other insects, such as caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles. These yellow jackets live in an enclosed paper nest built out of wood fibers mixed with their saliva, which is typically found in the ground but can also be constructed under eaves or porches. The adults nourish the larvae until they pupate into adult workers, who then take over the duties of feeding larvae. They have a body length of about one-half inch and a pair of wings with alternating light and dark stripes.
The female stings are more painful than the males because they have a larger venom sac. The yellow jacket wasp is so named because of its bright, noticeable coloration. This yellow-and-black pattern serves as a warning to potential predators to avoid being eaten. The males hunt for food while the females stay in the nests and watch over the larvae.
Aerial Yellow Jackets
Aerial yellow jacket is a type of wasp that has the typical color of yellow. The wing of the insect is black, covered with branched hairs.
The aerial yellow jacket differs from typical yellow jackets due to its wing size. The wing of this insect is much longer than the common kind, measuring about two inches in length. Furthermore, the abdomen is much larger than other kinds and is speckled with brown and yellow colors.
Aerial yellow jacket nests are larger than the terrestrial kind. The aerial yellow jacket also emits more pheromone that is used to attract their prey. Aerial wasp nests are usually found near open areas, making it easy for humans to spot them. More often than not, aerial nests are built high up in the air on electric poles and wires.
They can be distinguished from ordinary wasps by their yellow and brownish coloration, the length of their wings, and the size of their nests. They differ from other wasp kinds in behavior: aerial yellow jackets fly at a height and build their nests high above the ground on utility poles and power lines.
Furthermore, these wasps release more pheromone than other wasp kinds, attracting more prey. More often than not, their nests are built high up in the air on electric poles and wires. Aerial yellow jackets are larger than normal wasps with wings that measure about two inches in length. Their abdomens are speckled with brown and yellow colors.
They are found in California and other parts of America and throughout the world. They can often be spotted flying low over open areas during hot days. Aerial yellow jacket’s nests can reach up to three feet long and one foot wide, containing 500 eggs.
Are Yellow Wasp And Aerial Wasp Harmful?
The yellow wasp is a native, predatory wasp that can be found throughout North America. It prefers to live around the edges of fields and woods and near water sources like streams and ponds.
They are also known as the ground hornet, although it is not a hornet. It feeds on live insects and scavenged meat and also consumes nectar from flowers. As with most social wasps, the yellow jacket has a venomous sting that can cause severe reactions in humans; however, they pose little threat to large animals such as humans and do not attack unless threatened themselves.
Aerial wasps are colonies of Ichneumonidae parasitoid inscts that have evolved as parasitoids with over 10 million species worldwide. They often attack from the air or ambush from vegetation or soil surface or a spider web cocoon by flying at high speed onto the head of their prey. Aerial wasps are found in most countries of the world, with some tropical regions lacking certain species.
The wasps may also attack spiders many times larger than themselves by stinging them at their joints, paralyzing their victims. They also sting horseflies and deer flies (which provide a rich food source for larvae) and other large insects such as bumblebees and grasshoppers that they can’t sting through their hard, chitinous exoskeleton.
How to Get Rid Of Yellow Wasp And Aerial Wasp
These pests can be found throughout the United States but are most common in the country’s Eastern portion. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent these pests from ever entering your home or harming your family. If you are already infested with these wasps, there are ways of removing them.
First of all, it’s important to understand these pests. Yellow jackets and aerial yellow jackets are part of the wasp family. Some people have a more intense reaction to stings from these wasps than they do from honey bees, so it is crucial that you keep a safe distance from them while removing them or attempting to prevent their intrusion.
To begin, you will want to determine if there is a nest of wasps present in your home. Nests are commonly found on the sides of brick walls covered by bushes or greenery but may also be hidden under decks or porches. They can also be inside of wood siding or bricks. The best way to find the nests is to listen for the wasps. As you approach the area where they are, take note of any buzzing or humming sounds.
Once you’ve found the nest, use caution when attempting anything related to removing it. Even if there are eggs in the nest, they are still very much alive even if they aren’t attached to any adult wasps. Do not try to remove or shake the nest, as it can expose you to any wasps protecting the eggs.
The best thing for you to do is find a professional who can remove the entire nest without the risk of harming the wasps or their larvae inside. There are poison-free methods of removal that are available. For example, you can try using a small amount of dish soap or other liquid insecticides in the nest, leaving it for a while at night, and removing the nest in the morning. This should give any living wasps time to die before you even need to get near them.
If you have already been stung by these wasps, it’s important to realize that you do not have to rush to the emergency room. Instead, take some baking soda and mix it with some water to create a paste. Spread this over the sting, and it will take some of the pain away immediately.
Apply aloe vera to the area, as well as baking soda, if desired. If you are experiencing severe symptoms or have any doubts about your reaction to possible stings from these wasps, be sure to seek medical attention or visit your local hospital.