Is It a Wasp, Hornet or Yellowjacket? How to Tell Wasps, Hornets, Yellowjackets From Look-Alikes
Wasps/Hornets/Yellowjackets: 4 marks to check, what they are often confused with, whether they bite or sting, and where they turn up, quoted from university entomology and IPM sources.
At a glance
- Group: Order Hymenoptera, Family Vespidae (paper wasps, yellowjackets, hornets)
- Body plan: European paper wasps: black body with prominent yellow markings, orange-tipped antennae, and a thinner waist and abdomen than yellowjackets.
- Size: German yellowjacket workers about 1/2 inch (13 mm); queens about 3/4 inch. Bald-faced hornets range 13-20 mm.
- Bites or stings: Wasps sting and can sting repeatedly; European paper wasp stings are described as no more or less painful/dangerous than other paper wasp stings. A small proportion of people are allergic to bee/wasp stings.
- Where you find them: German yellowjacket nests are usually in attics, wall voids, and other open areas of structures, but may also be found underground.
How to tell it is one of the wasps/hornets/yellowjackets
- The bald-faced hornet is not a true hornet — it is an "aerial yellowjacket"; the only true hornet in North America is the European hornet.
- Flight behavior distinguishes paper wasps from yellowjackets: paper wasps dangle their legs in flight, yellowjackets hold legs close to the body.
- Nest material and shape differ: paper wasps build small open umbrella-shaped combs, while German yellowjackets build enclosed paper-envelope nests, often in attics/wall voids or underground.
- Compared with bees, wasps are predators/hunters (prey on caterpillars, aphids, flies) rather than pollen/nectar feeders, and can sting repeatedly.
Often confused with
People most often mix wasps/hornets/yellowjackets up with:
Open the other page and compare its list against the marks above; the differences are usually in the antennae, wings or the way the body is divided.
Bites and stings
Wasps sting and can sting repeatedly; European paper wasp stings are described as no more or less painful/dangerous than other paper wasp stings. A small proportion of people are allergic to bee/wasp stings. Seek medical care promptly for severe symptoms or any allergic reaction.
Pest or beneficial?
German yellowjackets are described as invasive, pest wasps that frequently build nests around structures and come into conflict with people foraging for food; social wasps generally also prey on other insect pests.
Where they turn up
German yellowjacket nests are usually in attics, wall voids, and other open areas of structures, but may also be found underground.
How to photograph it for identification
Get as close as your camera will focus, from directly above, in daylight or a bright lamp. Include the whole body with the legs and antennae in frame; a second shot from the side shows wings and body segments. Put a coin or ruler next to it for scale. For a bite or a bug found on skin or bedding, photograph the bug itself, not the mark. The app names the likely group; use the list above to confirm.
FAQ
Do wasps/hornets/yellowjackets bite or sting?
Wasps sting and can sting repeatedly; European paper wasp stings are described as no more or less painful/dangerous than other paper wasp stings. A small proportion of people are allergic to bee/wasp stings. Seek medical care promptly for severe symptoms or any sign of an allergic reaction.
What is the quickest way to recognize wasps/hornets/yellowjackets?
The bald-faced hornet is not a true hornet — it is an "aerial yellowjacket"; the only true hornet in North America is the European hornet.
Are wasps/hornets/yellowjackets a pest?
German yellowjackets are described as invasive, pest wasps that frequently build nests around structures and come into conflict with people foraging for food; social wasps generally also prey on other insect pests.
How do I tell wasps/hornets/yellowjackets from bees?
The bald-faced hornet is not a true hornet — it is an "aerial yellowjacket"; the only true hornet in North America is the European hornet. Nest material and shape differ: paper wasps build small open umbrella-shaped combs, while German yellowjackets build enclosed paper-envelope nests, often in attics/wall voids or underground. Compared with bees, wasps are predators/hunters (prey on caterpillars, aphids, flies) rather than pollen/nectar feeders, and can sting repeatedly. The Bees page lists its own marks.
Related
See what's really crawling, flying, and buzzing past.
Start with a single photo.
Sources
- https://extension.psu.edu/european-paper-wasp
- https://extension.psu.edu/german-yellowjackets
- https://extension.psu.edu/baldfaced-hornet
- https://extension.psu.edu/common-social-bees-and-wasps-of-pennsylvania-behavior-lifecycle-and-management
- https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7449.html
Updated 2026-09-11.