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Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Quick Tips

Yellowjackets are thick waisted with jagged, bright yellow stripes.

Paper wasps are more narrow waisted and have longer legs.

Mud daubers are slender and have much narrower ?waists? than yellowjackets.

Honeybees are hairier than yellowjackets.

Yellowjacket wasps prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage. Yellowjackets, sometimes called “meat bees,” defend their nests, as do other social wasps and bees. They are more likely to sting if disturbed while foraging. Stings generally cause pain and short-term injury, but some people suffer severe allergic responses. Prevent stings by avoiding wasps and removing food sources. Trapping or nest treatment can reduce yellowjacket populations.

Make sure it’s a yellowjacket.

• Yellowjackets are 1⁄2 to 1 inch long with jagged bright yellow and black stripes. Their narrow “waists” are barely visible. Unlike other common wasps, yellowjackets scavenge on food. They nest in holes in the ground, inside wall cavities, or in hanging nests totally enclosed in gray paper with a single entrance.
• Paper wasps have long slender waists, build paper nests with many open cells under eaves, and are rarely aggressive.
• Mud daubers are dark-colored and thread-waisted. They build small, hard mud nests and rarely sting.
• Honey bees are less brightly striped than yellowjackets and have more hair. They usually aren’t attracted to food, although they may go to sweets. Honey bees are unlikely to sting unless trapped or stepped on. They often nest inside cavities in trees or houses.

Stay calm to avoid stings.

• If a wasp lands on you, don’t swat it or run. Wait for it to leave, or gently brush it away.
• Don’t disturb nests. Wasps flying from a hole in the ground or a building indicate a probable nest.

Remove attractive food sources.

• Keep food, including pet food, covered or indoors.
• Outdoors, cover soda cans so wasps don’t crawl in.
• Keep garbage in sealed cans and empty regularly.
• Pick up and dispose of ripe fruit.

Use traps to reduce yellowjacket numbers.

• Yellow lure traps hung along the perimeter of a property can reduce foraging of some species around patios or picnic areas.
• Homemade traps using meat bait hung on a string just above soapy water may also be used.
• Place traps away from areas where people gather, such as picnic tables.

What should you do about a nest?

• Ask your Mosquito and Vector Control District if they treat nests, or locate a licensed pest control operator. Nests might be far away and hard to find.
• If you choose to treat nests yourself, wear protective clothing on your body, hands, and head. Use an insecticide that shoots a long stream into the nest entrance and is labeled for treating yellowjacket nests.
• Paper wasp nests shouldn’t require treatment unless they are near people.

What you do in your home and landscape affects our water and health

• Minimize the use of pesticides that pollute our waterways and harm human health.
• Use nonchemical alternatives or less toxic pesticide products whenever possible.
• Read product labels carefully and follow instructions on proper use, storage, and disposal.

Minimize the use of pesticides that pollute our waterways. Use nonchemical alternatives or less toxic pesticide products whenever possible. Read product labels carefully and follow instructions on proper use, storage, and disposal.