(Ames, IA) -- Yellow jackets are most active this time of year, and Ginny Mitchell, the Education Coordinator for Iowa State University's Insect Zoo says it's because their numbers are the highest right now and are more noticeable. They're also aggressive and their sting packs a punch if they feel threatened.
Yellow jacket colonies begin as a single queen in May, populations peak in August and September. Each nest may have up to approximately 5,000 wasps.
Mitchell says they can be a threat to children and pets, so she recommends using a wasp foam in the entrance of their jest, preferably at dusk when they are less active. The foam will coat their wings and reduce the population and the threat of stings.
She says they are beneficial, eating garden pests and helping with pollination. They're often attracted to sweet things, such as pop cans in garbage cans, but will also eat meat.