How to Identify Wasps
Look for yellow and black., Identify wasps with other coloration., Estimate the wasp’s size., Observe the body shape.
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Look for yellow and black.
Identify yellowjackets and European paper wasps by the yellow and black bands on the wasps’ abdomens.
Cicada killers are a type of digger wasp that resembles a larger, wider yellowjacket.
Identify the European hornet by its yellow and black striped tail and red-brown thorax.
You’ll also see black and yellow mud daubers.
Note that mud daubers can also be black or metallic blue-black, as can spider wasps (including tarantula hawks). -
Step 2: Identify wasps with other coloration.
Paper wasps native to North America are golden brown with patches of red and yellow.
Distinguish these from the baldfaced hornet, which is white and black striped with a white face.
Also look for digger wasps, which have orange-brown, yellow and black bodies and metallic blue wings.
Velvet ants, despite their name, are black, hairy, wingless wasps with bright red, yellow, orange, or white-colored areas. , Look for
0.5 inch (1.27 cm) long yellowjackets.
Contrast these with larger wasps, including the
0.75 to
1.2 inch (1.9 to 3 cm) long baldfaced hornets,
0.75 to
1.4 inch (1.9 to
3.5 cm) long European hornet, and the significantly larger 1 to
2.5 inch long (2.54 to
6.35 cm) tarantula hawks and
1.5 inch (3.81 cm) long cicada killer.
Paper wasps and mud daubers tend to be
0.5 to
0.75 inches (1.27 to
1.9 cm) long., With some rare exceptions
-- like the European hornet
-- wasps can be identified by their smooth, hairless bodies and narrow waists.
Learn to recognize the yellowjacket by its short, narrow waist and cone-like abdomen that tapers to a sharp point.
Look for the characteristically long legs and spindle-shaped waist of the paper wasp.
Also note the mud dauber has a very narrow waist and long, thin body. -
Step 3: Estimate the wasp’s size.
-
Step 4: Observe the body shape.
Detailed Guide
Identify yellowjackets and European paper wasps by the yellow and black bands on the wasps’ abdomens.
Cicada killers are a type of digger wasp that resembles a larger, wider yellowjacket.
Identify the European hornet by its yellow and black striped tail and red-brown thorax.
You’ll also see black and yellow mud daubers.
Note that mud daubers can also be black or metallic blue-black, as can spider wasps (including tarantula hawks).
Paper wasps native to North America are golden brown with patches of red and yellow.
Distinguish these from the baldfaced hornet, which is white and black striped with a white face.
Also look for digger wasps, which have orange-brown, yellow and black bodies and metallic blue wings.
Velvet ants, despite their name, are black, hairy, wingless wasps with bright red, yellow, orange, or white-colored areas. , Look for
0.5 inch (1.27 cm) long yellowjackets.
Contrast these with larger wasps, including the
0.75 to
1.2 inch (1.9 to 3 cm) long baldfaced hornets,
0.75 to
1.4 inch (1.9 to
3.5 cm) long European hornet, and the significantly larger 1 to
2.5 inch long (2.54 to
6.35 cm) tarantula hawks and
1.5 inch (3.81 cm) long cicada killer.
Paper wasps and mud daubers tend to be
0.5 to
0.75 inches (1.27 to
1.9 cm) long., With some rare exceptions
-- like the European hornet
-- wasps can be identified by their smooth, hairless bodies and narrow waists.
Learn to recognize the yellowjacket by its short, narrow waist and cone-like abdomen that tapers to a sharp point.
Look for the characteristically long legs and spindle-shaped waist of the paper wasp.
Also note the mud dauber has a very narrow waist and long, thin body.
About the Author
Thomas James
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow practical skills tutorials.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: