Common Yellow Jacket
Paravespula vulgaris
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Valley, Alabama
Anchorage, Alaska
Deer, Arkansas
Logan Lake, British Columbia
Calistoga, California
Fairfax, California
Glen Avon, California
Pedley, California
Rubidoux, California
San Jose, California
Sebastopol, California
Sunnyslope, California
Augusta, Georgia
Newburgh, Indiana
Grayson, Kentucky
Hebron, Kentucky
Lafayette, Louisiana
College Park, Maryland
Mount Airy, Maryland
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Milton, Massachusetts
Cedar Lake, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bucyrus, Ohio
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Middleburg, Pennsylvania
Baytown, Texas
Houston, Texas
Mont Belvieu, Texas
Portland, Texas
Rockwall, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Manassas, Virginia
Pembroke, Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia
Pomeroy, Washington
Fairview, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
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ilovejesus99
I went out to find what got me and there is a huge nest in one of my pampas grass. I will try to post later when I get a better picture of it. I love the clear bowl idea as they will suffer as much as I am. Nothing has eased the pain. Needless to say at the amount of yellow jackets coming and going from the nest I am very blessed to have only 1 sting. If excruciating pain can be called blessed.
davenaylorj
OutlawDJ
I have another way to get rid of them if you don't mind a skunk around your place at night. Locate the nest entrance during the day. After dark, go back and pour a good bit of honey into and around the hole. A skunk will be attracted by the honey and dig into the hole to get the rest of it. When the skunk smells the yellow jackets and larvae, he will dig out and eat the entir... read more
Malus2006
mariaerosselle
jimbodia
When you want to kill them, wait until night when they are inactive. They are all on the nest and you don't have to do battle with the ones flying around protecting the nest.
An interesting way to kill them is to put a glass bowl over their nest entrance. They see the light so they don't try to tunnel a new exit, they just keep trying to "go toward the light". After several days, (maybe a week or longer) the whole nest will be dead. Don't use this method if you have kids or animals around who might move the bowl b/c they will be attacked.
Mrs_Williams
My son was stung twice on the face by YJ who built a nest inside a gardenia bush planted by the previous owners that was at least 9 feet tall. He was playing basketball at least 10 feet away, I guess all his running and jumping and bouncing of the ball disturbed them. Needless to say, we cut it down.
I did find these little traps that you put sweet smelling things like apple juice inside. They also come with little pellets you mix with water. They smell the sugar fly in but the top of the traps prevent them from flying out. They work pretty well but I think only the morons of the bunch fell for it because I think the others saw thier buddies floating in the juice a... read more
shubuty
Yellow jackets took over the "heritage" raspberry patch, eating almost every berry. It was terrible. Talk about aggressive. Actually chased us away.
joegee
Both can be deadly if not treated with respect.
On the other hand I have found that if I don't provoke hornets they'll leave me alone. By being careful I've not been stung in thirty years. If hornets are in an area where they may come contact with humans I call a professional (I had a colony removed from inside one of the walls of my house,) otherwise, I do not disturb them. Like snakes, sco... read more
htop
carrielamont
Farmerdill
greenlina
gregr18
Stings can be very painful (as I can personally attest), though pain and inflammation usually subside within a day. As is often the case with wasp and bee stings, a portion of the population may have severe allergic reactions to yellow jacket venom and will need medical attention.
Yellow jackets are considered fairly aggressive wasps, especially when near their nests, and should not be disturbed.