Yellowjackets

Andra

Yellowjackets are one of the more aggressive wasps and will be quick to defend their nest/colony.

What you are dealing with!

As the year progresses the nest/colony gets larger, reaching its maximum size in late fall. The aggressiveness of the nest/colony also increases as the season progresses. This is the period when the new queens and drones (male wasps) are produced. This is when the nest/colony is at its most defensive state and trivial things will set them off. They will aggressively attack anything they perceive as a threat. The female can sting as many times as she wishes and each time she stings, she decides if she will also release venom and how much.

The annual life cycle of the yellowjackets ends in the fall when the first hard freeze reaches the nest. Only the new queens survive as they will find a place to overwinter and will start their own nest the following year.

Some good pointers

“Dos and Don’ts” of Avoiding Stinging Wasps

Do Not use sweet-smelling colognes, perfumes, and hair sprays in wasp areas.

Do Not wear bright-colored clothing; wear tan, khaki, and dark-colored clothes.

Do Not picnic, sit, or stand near trash cans, fallen fruit, or other wasp feeding sites.

Do Not swat or move rapidly when a wasp visits you or your food or drink; move slowly.

I tell those who have a nest whose location is creating an unsafe area of your yard/garden to seek professional help for destruction of the nests especially those that are hard to reach. This is not a DIY project. Control and destruction of the nest is the safest way to protect people. It is best done by professionals who use pesticides specifically for Yellowjacket control. Control is best done at night when most wasps are inside. Just ask the pest control people if they treat them at night or day time. If they do night time treatments, ask them if they use flashlights. They should say no. yellowjackets treat flashlights and the holders as a threat.

Beware of a second exits for the colony/nest.

If you are going to hang around when the treatment is done wear protective clothing!

Do Not approach a nest; if you do disturb a nest, run away from attacking wasps.

Do cleanup food and drink refuse, clean trash cans, and fit them with a tight lid to reduce wasp visits.

Additional Note:

Usually after we get our first and sometimes the second big freeze the cold kills the nest. Here we are approaching mid Dec and still no big freeze. Another reason to be very careful as the nest is big and there is little food out there for them.

References:

pnyellowjackets.pdf A good site from Univ. California

Yellowjackets | solvepest A good site from OSU

Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you for contacting us at Ask Extension. Rich