Probably the exact insect you imagine when you think of a wasp, the yellowjacket is ubiquitous and can be pretty darn annoying.
Of the wasps you may find in your garden, they are probably one of the scariest in terms of looks! These guys are bigger than most other wasp species in the US, with a maximum size of around an inch.
This skinny red, black, and yellow species sports dark wings and can reach a size of just under an inch. Like other paper wasps, it has long legs.
The best way to tell a European paper wasp apart from a yellowjacket is by looking at it in-flight. They’ll trail their back legs loosely behind them, whereas yellowjackets tuck them in.
Although it has swapped the yellow markings for white with plenty of black, the yellowjacket temperament is absolutely still there with bald-faced hornets.