Ruining BBQs since the dawn of time

Wasps are among the most hated of pests. Their nasty stingers and freaky wings can send anyone running when they decide to crash your picnic or outdoor barbeque, and we definitely don't blame you if you take off when one makes an entrance.

Wasps are a flying pest that fall into one of two categories: social or solitary. Social wasps tend to build their nests above grounds in sheltered locations that are often well-hidden, such as in dense foliage, attics, wall voids, or tucked under the eaves of structures such as your home's deck or gutters. Solitary wasps, on the other hand, build their nests in the ground using mud or in hollow spots of plant stems or wood.

Wasps do look similar to bees, but there are some distinct differences. Wasps have characteristically slender waists, and they don't usually have as much fuzzy body hair as bees sometimes do. Wasps have six legs and two pairs of wings. There are many different species of wasps in the United States, but they're often bright in color to serve as a warning to predators. They can be black, yellow, red-brown, dark brown, yellow-orange, or black and yellow striped.

Only female wasps possess the ability to sting you. Further unlike bees, the female wasp can sting multiple targets, as the stinger doesn't fall off after being used. Wasps aren't known to carry diseases that can be transferred to humans by their sting, but it is painful, and allergic reactions can occur that, in severe cases, can be fatal.