{"id":5059,"date":"2014-12-08T15:30:14","date_gmt":"2014-12-08T20:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/?page_id=5059"},"modified":"2026-07-20T17:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T21:06:30","slug":"hornets-wasps-and-yellowjackets","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/hornets-wasps-and-yellowjackets\/","title":{"rendered":"Hornets, Wasps and Yellowjackets"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"an<\/a>
American Yellowjacket \/ Alaska Yellowjacket (Vespula alascensis<\/i>) (female worker) (Searsport, ME; 7\/23\/2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many of Maine’s hornets, wasps and yellowjackets are members of the Vespidae family of insects. Most<\/em> vespid wasps are social insects and most are capable of repeatedly stinging if they feel threatened or feel their nest is in danger. They can be a significant nuisance throughout Maine, particularly in mid to late summer when colonies reach peak numbers. The colony (nest) is started each spring by a single fertilized queen and continues to grow through the summer as more workers hatch.\u00a0 Hornets, wasps and yellowjackets may be aerial or ground nest builders, producing grayish paper nests in trees, shrubs, and under building eaves. They may also nest in the ground, in logs, or in the walls of structures. They prey on caterpillars and other insects, though yellowjackets will also scavenge and are often attracted to sugary and high-protein foods in garbage containers.<\/p>\n

Family Vespidae (most are social and stinging):<\/h2>\n