Yellowjacket (paper wasp type)

Gardens, woodland edges, buildings, eaves, and other sheltered locations where exposed paper nests can be built.

Adults consume nectar and other sugary liquids; they capture and chew caterpillars and other insects to feed developing larvae.

Social, colonial wasps with annual nests; workers defend the nest and can sting repeatedly. The pictured insect’s slender body and long legs suggest a paper wasp rather than a compact yellowjacket, but species-level identification is limited by the image.

Can deliver a painful sting, especially when trapped or near a nest; stings may cause severe allergic reactions. Beneficial predators of caterpillars and other garden pests, and occasional pollinators.