Yellowjacket sting
A yellowjacket sting usually shows up as a raised red welt, often with a visible central point, and marked swelling, red with pale swollen centre, appearing immediate sharp pain. It peaks around 2 to 24 hours and generally lasts pain hours; swelling can last several days. Single or several — this wasp can sting repeatedly is the usual arrangement.
| Looks like | a raised red welt, often with a visible central point, and marked swelling |
|---|---|
| Pattern | single or several — this wasp can sting repeatedly |
| Size | 10–100 mm |
| Appears | immediate sharp pain |
| Worst at | 2 to 24 hours |
| Lasts | pain hours; swelling can last several days |
| Itch | ●●●○○ 3/5 |
| Pain | ●●●●● 5/5 |
| Usually on | hands, face, neck, legs |
| Active | June to October, daytime, peaking in late summer when colonies are largest and food-seeking |
How to tell it apart
Yellowjackets are the wasps at the picnic. Unlike honey bees they leave no stinger behind and can sting several times, and the pain is immediate and intense rather than building. Late summer is when stings peak, because colonies are at their largest and switching to sugar.
Where and when you meet it
Habitat: ground nests in banks and lawns, wall cavities, rubbish bins and picnic tables.
Across 7,058 verified US records in the GBIF biodiversity database, sightings of Vespula germanica concentrate in August to October. That is the window when bites are most likely — it is observation data rather than a guess, and it shifts with latitude.
States with the most recorded sightings
- New York 1,692 records
- Pennsylvania 814 records
- Ohio 664 records
- Massachusetts 575 records
- Illinois 498 records
- Michigan 304 records
- Minnesota 283 records
- Indiana 266 records
- Wisconsin 262 records
- Maryland 252 records
- New Jersey 248 records
- Connecticut 213 records
Record counts reflect where people report and identify specimens, not exact abundance. They are useful for ruling a species in, not for ruling it out.
Where it is recorded
| Country | Records | Peak months there |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 8,625 | April, August, September |
| United States | 7,058 | August to October |
| United Kingdom | 6,663 | April, July, August, September |
| Canada | 4,531 | August to October |
| Australia | 4,229 | March to May |
| France | 2,599 | April, July, August, September, October |
| Brazil | 1 | — |
Verified records from the GBIF biodiversity database across the seven countries we cover. A country missing from this table means we have no records for it, not that the species is absent.
What it means for you
Most severe sting reactions in the United States involve this group. A large local swelling — a whole forearm over a couple of days — is uncomfortable but not the same as anaphylaxis; the emergency signs are breathing difficulty, faintness and symptoms away from the sting site.
Seek medical care if
Call emergency services now for difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, dizziness or fainting, or hives spreading away from the bite.
- throat tightness, breathing difficulty, dizziness, hives away from the sting — emergency
- stings inside the mouth or throat
- many stings at once
- swelling that spreads across a whole limb over 24 to 48 hours
Care at home
- move away — yellowjackets release an alarm pheromone and recruit
- wash and apply a cold pack
- antihistamine and pain relief
- adrenaline auto-injector immediately if previously prescribed
Preventing the next one
- cover food and sweet drinks outdoors — check cans before drinking
- keep bins closed and away from seating
- have ground nests treated professionally
Common questions
How do I know it was a yellowjacket?
Yellowjackets are the wasps at the picnic. Unlike honey bees they leave no stinger behind and can sting several times, and the pain is immediate and intense rather than building. Late summer is when stings peak, because colonies are at their largest and switching to sugar.
How long does a yellowjacket sting last?
Typically pain hours; swelling can last several days, peaking around 2 to 24 hours.
When is it a problem?
Seek care for: throat tightness, breathing difficulty, dizziness, hives away from the sting — emergency; stings inside the mouth or throat; many stings at once; swelling that spreads across a whole limb over 24 to 48 hours.
Can it transmit disease?
No human disease is known to be transmitted by this species in the United States. The practical risk is infection from scratching.
Get a photo assessment in the app
Everything above is free to read. The app adds what a page cannot: point your camera at the bite and get an assessment of the most likely cause, a severity read, and a day-by-day care plan — including the specific signs that mean you should be seen.
iPhone and iPad. Free to download.