Homeowner Guide to Minor Stinging Insects

Published in 2009. Revised 2025. Yellowjackets and their relatives have well-earned reputations for painful stings. But they are also beneficial pollinators, predators, or scavengers. Learn about the qualities of the most important types of yellowjackets, hornets, and wasps encountered around Idaho homes in this lushly illustrated homeowner’s guide. Soon you’ll be able to more decisively determine when control action is warranted and which options are the best.