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Stinging insect identification guide
Hornet vs Wasp vs Yellowjacket: How to Tell Them Apart in Georgia
In Georgia, “hornet” gets used for several different stinging insects, and all of them are wasps. The fastest way to tell them apart is the nest: yellowjackets usually nest in the ground, bald-faced hornets (a type of yellowjacket) build football-shaped paper nests in the open, paper wasps build small open umbrella-shaped combs, and European hornets nest in hollow trees and sometimes in wall voids or attics.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Identification
Which stinging insect is it? Compare the nests
People call many stinging insects “hornets,” but extension sources separate them mostly by where the nest is and what it looks like. Start with the nest, and keep your distance while you look.
| Insect | Looks | Nest | Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowjacket | Yellow and black markings | Usually in the ground, such as an old rodent burrow. Some nest in wall voids, sheds or dense shrubs. Nests range from soft-ball size to a few feet across | Easily agitated; can seem to sting without provocation |
| Bald-faced hornet | Mostly black with three white stripes on the abdomen. UGA calls it a type of yellowjacket | Cone-, egg- or football-shaped paper nest built in the open, up in tree branches or on utility poles, with the comb fully wrapped in a paper envelope | Aggressive and can sting repeatedly |
| Paper wasp | About 1/2 to 3/4 in. long with very little hair | Small, open, umbrella-shaped comb with exposed cells and no paper wrapping, often in sheltered spots such as under eaves. A nest holds about 4 to 30 wasps | Not as defensive of the nest as hornets and yellowjackets |
| European hornet | Brown with yellowish-orange stripes. UGA says about an inch and a half long | Usually a hollow tree, but also barns, sheds, attics and wall voids. Rarely free-hanging or unprotected | Flies at night and is drawn to lights. More of a problem in summer and fall |
Quick nest test: open cells you can see from below point to a paper wasp. A closed, layered gray paper ball or football hanging in the open points to a bald-faced hornet. A hole in the ground with traffic in and out points to a yellowjacket.
When and where you will notice them in Georgia
Most social wasps follow the same yearly pattern, which is why they seem to appear all at once in late summer.
Spring
UGA says each colony starts in spring when a single queen begins a nest.
Late summer and fall
Colonies can reach several hundred workers by September, according to UGA. European hornets are most defensive in summer and fall, when the colony is largest.
Winter
UGA says the old queen dies and the colony dies as winter arrives. eXtension notes that where it does not freeze for long, yellowjacket colonies may not die out in winter.
Night sightings are a clue too. UGA Extension says European hornets are one of the few wasps attracted to lights at night, so they are often found around porch lights after dark.
When to leave a nest alone and when to call
Do not try home remedies. University of Maryland Extension warns against flooding a burrow, setting a nest on fire and similar tactics, because they are not necessarily effective and are likely to increase the risk of stings.
UGA Extension says any disturbance of a nest brings instant activity, and that European hornets can sting repeatedly. If a nest is out of the way and nobody goes near it, UGA says ignoring it can be the best practice. Warn your family and neighbors and avoid contact.
Call a professional when
- The nest is in a wall, attic or other spot you cannot reach. UGA says a nest in a wall will probably need to be professionally removed.
- The nest is in the ground or on a structure near a door, walkway or play area.
- Anyone in the household has had a serious reaction to stings.
- You are not sure what kind of nest it is.
If someone is stung
- Move away from the nest right away.
- Get emergency medical care for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or many stings.
A note on the invasive yellow-legged hornet, and how we help
The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive species that the Georgia Department of Agriculture says threatens honeybees and other pollinators. The Department's FAQ says it has so far been detected only in the Savannah area (Chatham, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty counties). It describes the hornet as having dark legs with the last third yellow and a very wide orange to yellow stripe on the abdomen.
The Department asks residents to report suspected sightings or nests to it and recommends contacting it for nest removal. The FAQ page shows no date, so check the Department's page for current information.
How Pest Control Atlanta helps
Pest Control Atlanta handles wasp, hornet and yellowjacket nest problems at homes and businesses. Call to describe the nest and where it is, and we will talk through your options.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a bald-faced hornet really a hornet?
UGA Extension says the bald-faced hornet is actually a type of yellowjacket, and eXtension calls it another species of wasp rather than a true hornet. It is mostly black with three white stripes on the abdomen.
Which is more aggressive, a hornet or a wasp?
eXtension says many people consider yellowjackets the most aggressive stinging insect, and University of Maryland Extension says yellowjackets are easily agitated. It describes paper wasps as not as defensive of their nests as hornets and yellowjackets.
Why are large wasps at my porch light at night?
UGA Extension says the European hornet is one of the few wasps attracted to lights at night, so it is often found around porch lights after dark.
Do these nests survive the winter?
UGA says the old queen dies and the colony dies as winter arrives. eXtension adds that in southern states where it does not freeze for an extended period, yellowjacket colonies may not die out.
Should I knock down or burn a nest?
No. University of Maryland Extension advises against home remedies such as flooding a burrow or setting a nest on fire, and UGA says any disturbance brings instant activity.
What if the nest is inside my wall?
UGA Extension says that if a nest is in a wall of your home or another inaccessible area, you should call a pest control company because the nest will probably need to be professionally removed.
Where this information comes from
Sources
Facts about identification, biology and safety come from the sources below, retrieved on October 7, 2026. Publication or review dates are given where the source shows one.
- Hornets, yellow jackets noticeable this time of year, UGA CAES Field Report — by Paul Pugliese, September 18, 2013
- European Hornets, UGA Extension Fannin and Gilmer Counties — August 11, 2021
- European Hornets Invade North Georgia Homes, UGA CAES Field Report — by J. Faith Peppers, August 11, 1999 (older article; consistent with the 2021 UGA page)
- Social Wasps: Yellowjackets, Hornets, and Paper Wasps, University of Maryland Extension — January 2024, reviewed April 2024
- How to Get Rid of Wasp, Hornet, and Yellow Jackets, Pests in the Home (eXtension) — no date shown
- Yellow-legged Hornet FAQ, Georgia Department of Agriculture — no date shown; checked October 7, 2026
More identification guides
Browse the full Atlanta Pest Library, or read another identification guide:
Found a nest?
Call Pest Control Atlanta to describe the nest and where it is. We will talk through your options.
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