Female wasps are capable of inflicting a painful sting on humans, causing swelling and redness for a few hours. This life-threatening allergic reaction causes hives, severe swelling, blocked airways, circulatory failure, and possibly death. Approximately 50 people die in the U.S. each year from anaphylactic shock caused by a sting. Wasps, unlike honeybees, can sting multiple times. Honeybees can sting only once since their stingers have barbs, causing the stinger to remain in the skin and detach from the bee, effectively killing it.
Paper wasps are one of the less aggressive wasps.
All social wasps are beneficial to humans in that they prey on many harmful, plant-feeding, and nuisance insects. For this reason, social wasp colonies should be protected, though preferably in areas uninhabited by humans.