What Are Yellow Jackets?

Yellow jackets are social wasps that live in colonies. They are around a half-inch long in size, have semi-transparent wings, and have a black and yellow-striped abdomen. Because of their similar size, yellow jackets can be mistaken for honeybees, but unlike honeybees, they don’t have hairy bodies or a place on their legs to store pollen. 

“These are social wasps that form communal nests, usually in holes in the ground that they aggressively defend if you get too close,” says David Mizejewski, National Wildlife Federation naturalist and author of Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife. If you’re concerned about being stung, he recommends learning where yellow jackets might be on your property to avoid them.

“With a little knowledge, basic awareness of your surroundings, and simply avoiding them, your chances of getting stung by a yellow jacket wasp are actually very low,” Mizejewski says.  

What Attracts Yellow Jackets?

Yellow jackets may be annoying or produce panic for some, but like bees, they are pollinators. “Yellow jackets are part of a healthy ecosystem,” says Kim Eierman, environmental horticulturist, author of The Pollinator Victory Garden, and founder of EcoBeneficial.  

If you have flowering plants, yellow jackets may buzz around in search of nectar. They are also key in reducing pests in the garden. “During the spring and summer, yellow jackets tirelessly patrol your garden, picking off pest insects to feed their larvae,” says Mizejewski, “but the adults feed on flower nectar, fruit, and a sugary substance produced by their larvae.”

“Yellow jackets eat pests, such as flies, beetle grubs, caterpillars, and other insects,” says Eierman.

When there are fewer flowers, yellow jackets start searching for sugary alternatives. So when yellow jackets visit you during your barbeque or outdoor gathering, they’re in search of food; they’re not interested in humans.

“If they show up at your picnic, they’re just looking for a quick meal and are totally uninterested in you—unless you panic and swat at them, in which case they might sting you out of fear,” says Mizejewski. “An open can of soda, a bowl of fruit salad, or even the ketchup on your plate becomes very appealing to them,” he adds.

“While they can be annoying in late summer and early fall, learning to co-exist with them promotes a healthier environment for all creatures—including us humans,” Eierman says.

Getting Rid of Yellow Jackets in Your Yard 

By selecting the right plants and keeping foods covered when eating outside, you can encourage yellow jackets to stay away.

Grow Mint

A natural method for keeping yellow jackets at bay in your garden, yard, patio, porch, or balcony is to grow fragrant herbs that yellow jackets don’t want to be near. “For the areas where you spend time, plant some culinary mints, like peppermint and spearmint,” says Eierman. She says yellow jackets don’t seem to like these plants. It's best to keep mint in containers because it will spread rampantly in garden beds.

Plant Native Plants 

Yellow jackets seek out nectar, so having native plants is a way to keep them busy and out of your way. Eierman suggests growing plants to distract them from other areas of your property. “Planting a wide array of appealing native plants, especially white-flowered native plants, will attract many species of wasps seeking nectar and distract them from your outdoor barbecue,” says Eierman. She also recommends growing small, white flowers in areas with less human activity. 

Cover Food 

The smell of meat and sugary substances attracts yellow jackets. When eating outside, keep food covered as much as possible and garbage cans inaccessible to discourage yellow jackets from hanging around. “Don’t leave exposed food in open trash cans and avoid eating close to public trash cans when possible,” says Mizejewski. 

What to Do with a Yellow Jacket Nest

Yellow jackets are territorial and feel threatened when people or pets get too close to their nests. If the nests are in areas that you frequent often and aren’t easy to avoid, you should consider having them removed. Yellow jacket nest removal isn’t a DIY project because it can require special equipment to do safely. “If you have a nest close to a high-traffic area, it’s best to call in a professional pest removal company,” says Mizejewski.