Problem:

Yellow Jackets

Vespa and Vespula species Unlike most other species of wasps, yellow jackets live in large colonies, often numbering in the thousands. Some species of yellow jackets feed their offspring insects and spiders, while others scavenge scraps of meat from recreational areas or dump sites. These pests may also feed on nectar, sap, and other sugary fluids and may be seen hovering around soft drinks and cut fruit. Yellow jackets can inflict painful stings and are capable of repeated stings. The venom injected along with the sting causes reddening, swelling, and itching of the affected area. Some people who are very sensitive to the stings experience extreme swelling, dizziness, difficulty in breathing, and even death. Yellow jackets are very protective of their nests, and large numbers may emerge to sting intruders. Some species of yellow jackets build their nests underground; the only evidence of the nest is a raised mound of dirt surrounding a depression several inches deep. Other species build football-shape nests in trees or shrubs or under eaves. Most yellow jackets die in the late fall, and overwintering queens start new nests the following spring in a different location.