Yellowjackets are a member of the bee and wasp family. The yellowjacket's ability to repeatedly sting makes them a considerable health threat. Yellowjackets alone are responsible for about one half of all human insect stings. Yellowjackets are commonly confused with honeybees.
Honeybees are more honey colored and covered with fuzzy hair.
Yellowjackets live in underground nests in old rodent burrows, in woodpiles, piles of brush, compost piles or hollow trees. In late summer the yellowjacket nest may contain several thousand wasps. New nests are started each spring. Yellowjackets are attracted to areas with sweet food such as picnic areas and ice-cream stands. Open cans of garbage or unclean garbage cans are the biggest yellowjacket attractants.