Hornets and yellow jackets are two types of wasps. Here’s how to tell them apart:
Hornets have broader bodies than other types of wasps. They may be black with gray or white bands or yellow, brown, and black. They build gray, pear-shaped nests with an opening at the bottom.
Yellow jackets have jagged yellow and black stripes on their bodies. They tend to nest underground, and they’ll often become aggressive if provoked.
European paper wasps are sometimes confused for yellow jackets. They build open nests with hexagonal shapes that can be seen from the outside.