August 1996
SIZE: 5/8 to 1 inch (14-25.4mm)
COLOR: Reddish-brown with a yellow circle
DESCRIPTION: Paper wasps are 3/4 to 1 inch long and have longer legs and slenderer bodies than yellow jackets and hornets. Their abdomen taper at both ends. Paper wasps are sometimes called "umbrella wasps" because their nests consist of a single exposed comb suspended by a narrow stalk.
HABITAT: Paper wasps may be more inclined to build nests in attics than yellow jackets or hornets because their nests lack an outer covering.
LIFE CYCLE: Similar to other social wasps, paper wasps abandon their nests in the autumn, with the mated queens overwintering. A queen killed in the fall or early spring will eliminate an entire nest during the summer.
TYPE OF DAMAGE: Can give a severe sting
CONTROL: After being stung, apply a poultice of a meat tenderizer to the wound. If the sting is not deep, this will break down the components of the sting fluid, reducing pain. Individual paper wasps and their nests can be sprayed with an aerosol insecticide. It is best to knock down the nest if possible after spraying all the wasps on it.