Wasps, the meaner cousin of the bee, are nobody’s favorite. Nothing ruins a fun time outside with the family more than a bunch of wasps flying around threatening to sting with little to no provocation. They’re like lazy bees who don’t even have the decency to pollinate or make honey!
General Facts
Wasps are an ancient insect that’s been around for 250 million years…older than many of the dinosaurs. Some species are more aggressive than others, but they can all sting, and unlike bees who can only sting you once, wasps have the ability to sting multiple times. The majority of wasps are actually solitary creatures who hunt alone, however the wasps we deal with the most are “social wasps” who live together and build nests.
Types of Wasps
There are several types of wasps you should know about in the Southern Utah area:
Yellowjacket: The most famous wasp due to their aggressiveness and territorial nature. They are bright yellow with black stripes. They mostly build nests underground or in voids on buildings, but they sometimes build aerial nests which look like paper balls at first, but are more football-shaped when they get bigger. These wasps are famous for chasing victims, stinging unprovoked, and stinging multiple times.
Paper Wasp: Not as aggressive as yellowjackets, but will still become aggressive to defend their nests or if otherwise provoked and actually have a slightly more painful sting than a yellowjacket. They build umbrella-shaped nests by chewing wood fiber into a paper pulp. They’re also the wasps that are most likely to build their nests on your home preferring high sheltered eaves, attic vents, under deck railings, etc. These are by far the most common wasps in Southern Utah.
Bald-faced Wasp: closely related to yellowjackets, but not quite as aggressive. They are called “bald-faced” due to the white markings on their face. Unlike yellowjackets they always build aerial nests (as opposed to underground) under eaves or in bushes and trees. The nests have a similar look, but bald-faced wasps tend to build them bigger. They are especially defensive of their nests. These are the rarest of the wasps on this list and you won’t likely see them too often.
Yellowjacket or Paper Wasp?
Learn how to identify these wasps so you know which one you’re dealing with! Lets discuss the differences between the 2 most common types of yellowjackets and paper wasps found in Utah.
Golden Paper Wasp: Slender bodies, longer legs, golden yellow color. They fly with their legs dangling below them.
Western Yellowjacket: Stocky, robust bodies. Short legs, striking yellow with black bands. They fly with their legs tucked in.
Get Rid of Them!
But no matter which wasp you’re dealing with, you can always count on Newby’s Pest • Lawn • Weeds to protect you and your family so that backyard time can be wasp-free. Call us today at 435-586-7337 for wasp control, or click the button below to schedule online:
