A yellow jacket is a type of wasp with bright yellow and black stripes that warn other animals to stay away. Unlike honeybees, which can only sting once, yellow jackets can sting multiple times, and they're known for being aggressive when defending their nests. They build paper nests in the ground, in wall cavities, or hanging from tree branches.

Yellow jackets become especially troublesome in late summer and fall when they're attracted to sweet foods and drinks. If you've ever had an uninvited visitor buzz around your lemonade at a picnic, it was probably a yellow jacket. While they're pests at outdoor meals, yellow jackets also help by eating other insects and feeding them to their young.

People often handle yellow jackets by staying calm and moving away slowly. Swatting at them or making sudden movements can trigger an attack. If a nest is discovered near a home, experts can remove it safely rather than someone trying to deal with it alone.