Species guide
European paper wasp
Can bite or stingPolistes dominula
How to recognise it
A slender yellow-and-black wasp (more elongate than a yellowjacket, with orange-tipped antennae) that builds open, umbrella-shaped paper nests under eaves and railings.
Is it dangerous?
Can sting, but is less aggressive than a yellowjacket away from its nest. Stings are dangerous to anyone allergic.
What to do
Leave nests well alone; remove them cautiously after dark or hire a professional, especially if anyone nearby is allergic.
Recorded 114,609 times in the wild worldwide.
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