Wasps are a type of stinging insect that flies. They have wings, six legs, antennae and are usually black and white, black and yellow or some color variation with stripes along their bodies. The most commonly known wasps are yellow jackets and hornets. In Northern Virginia, you might see the bald-faced hornet, European hornets, yellow jackets or paper wasps. Wasps are known for being good natural forms of pest control by preying on other pests such as insects and spiders.

These stinging insects are most prevalent in Northern Virginia in the springtime through October. In the winter, the majority of the wasp population dies, except for the mated females, who will become the queens and go into hibernation until the early spring.

Wasps are known for being highly aggressive and can sting people, prey on bees and cause damage to crops such as apples, pears and other fruits that they make holes in. Female wasps have stingers and it is actually an egg laying organ that has been modified. While bees can typically only sting once, wasps are capable of stinging repeatedly. A wasp sting can be very painful and in some cases very harmful and potentially life threatening. Wasps have stingers that have venom in them and can cause a severe reaction to people who are allergic, called anaphylaxis. While wasps aren’t known for causing structural damage like some other pests, it is still important to remove them from your property if they are being a nuisance or causing discomfort to you and the members of your home.