Many people think that a yellow jacket is a bee, but it is actually a wasp. Only the females sting, but they have a mean sting, especially when protecting the nest. Yellow jackets like to interrupt picnics and cookouts by trying to get some of the food for themselves. A yellow jacket may sting you if you try to swat it, so keep your food covered and leave it alone. Yellow jackets are usually yellow and black, but some of their relatives have white stripes on their abdomen.

Used with permission from Ken Bakeman