Yellow jackets are common backyard residents. Throughout the warmer months of the year, they actively hunt for food throughout our yards. If we leave them alone, they rarely sting us. However, if we are going to have a bad encounter with them it will most likely be in the fall.
One reason that you are more likely to incur a painful yellow jacket sting in autumn is there are simply far more yellow jackets around at that time of the year. All summer long yellow jacket numbers increase to the point that by the time autumn rolls around a colony may number anywhere from 2,000-4,000+ individuals.
Another cause is during the fall yellow jackets change their diet. During the spring and summer, their diet consists, in large part, of spiders, caterpillars, flies, and other invertebrates. Remarkably, yellow jackets are capable of capturing more than 2 pounds of insects and other invertebrates from a 2,000 square-foot garden plot. The protein that they bring back to their nest benefits the young that continually hatch throughout the summer.
However, as they days get shorter, yellow jackets begin switching to a diet rich in carbohydrates. Yellow jackets locate these sweet foods in tree sap, nectar, and the juice of fruits and berries. Much to our chagrin, they are also attracted to foods and beverages served at picnics and other outside gatherings.
At this time of the year yellow jackets, become more aggressive toward one another as well as people and pets. Consequently, they are more prone to sting without provocation. Since this behavioral change coincides with a switching from a predominantly protein diet to one rich in carbohydrates, some researchers suggest this may be the main reason for their aggressive fall attitude.
With that in mind, don’t go near yellow jacket nests in the fall. In addition, if one does sting you, just remember that a painful sting might be a small price to pay for an insect that helps control insects pests that prey on the food an ornamental plant growing in your yard.
I tried do take my own advice recently when I was the victim of an unprovoked yellow jacket that zeroed in on my arm. I must admit immediately after I was stung, I was not harboring kind thoughts regarding yellow jackets. However, as is often the case with many things, over time I got over it.
6 thoughts on “BACKYARD SECRET—YELLOW JACKETS ARE MOST APT TO STING IN FALL”
I had problems with yellowjackets at our hummingbird feeder during late summer. I finally set up a small dish of the hummingbird feed close by. I put a small stick in the dish so that any that fell in could climb to safety. There would often be a few gathered at the dish each morning when I went out to check the feeder. They seemed happy with that arrangement and, with a few exceptions, left the hummingbird feeder alone. At first I was concerned about being stung, but they left me alone too. It was a good solution for everybody.
I was at a town Fair Saturday having a piece of fried whiting fish. A yellow jacket kept landing on it then took a small chunk of the white flesh in its mandibles and flew off. There were obviously people all around with sodas and snow cones, I thought the bug was confused, but it was very focused on my fish!
I had problems with yellowjackets at our hummingbird feeder during late summer. I finally set up a small dish of the hummingbird feed close by. I put a small stick in the dish so that any that fell in could climb to safety. There would often be a few gathered at the dish each morning when I went out to check the feeder. They seemed happy with that arrangement and, with a few exceptions, left the hummingbird feeder alone. At first I was concerned about being stung, but they left me alone too. It was a good solution for everybody.
Joan,
Thanks ever so much for sharing you solution to the yellow jacket problem. I will definitely adopt it.
Terry
Excellent information, Terry! I will heed your advice!
Anonymous,
Thanks for the comment. I hope the information helps prevent you from being stung.
Terry
I was at a town Fair Saturday having a piece of fried whiting fish. A yellow jacket kept landing on it then took a small chunk of the white flesh in its mandibles and flew off. There were obviously people all around with sodas and snow cones, I thought the bug was confused, but it was very focused on my fish!
Yellow jackets eat both sweet foods and meats. I guess, for some reason, the one that wanted to eat some of your fish like meat. It is odd though.