Yellowjacket (wasp)

Gardens, forests, meadows, urban and suburban areas; builds paper nests underground, in hollow logs, wall cavities, or eaves.

Adults feed on sugary substances like nectar, fruit juices, and honeydew; larvae are fed protein such as caterpillars, flies, and scavenged meats.

Social insects living in annual colonies containing a queen, female workers, and male drones. They are aggressive defenders of their nest, particularly in late summer and autumn when food sources diminish.

Risks: Capable of delivering multiple painful stings, which can cause severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in sensitive individuals. Benefits: Important natural pest control agents that prey on many harmful garden and agricultural pests.