Honeybees
Honey bees get their common name from the honey they make using the nectar they gather from flowers. They are social insects found worldwide and are incredibly beneficial because of their role in pollination. In the U.S. alone, honey bees pollinate more than 100 crops. The two most common honey bees in the United States are the relatively docile European honey bee and the much more aggressive African honey bee. You can find more information via the link for honeybees.
Characteristics
Size: ½”
Color: Golden yellow with brown bands
Habits: Honey bees actively pollinate and produce honey that nourishes their young in colder months. They are the only social insects that can survive for many years.
Honey bees primarily swarm when the colony size gets too large for the hive or when the queen begins to fail. New queens are produced, and the old queen leaves with a large number of workers.
Honey bees are not aggressive and do not search for something to attack. Instead, they are defensive and will attack when they feel that the colony is in danger.
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps get their common name from the paper-like material of their nests. They are sometimes called umbrella wasps, after the shape of their nests. You can find more information via the link for paper wasps.
Characteristics
Size: 5/8 – 3/4” (16-20 mm)
Color: Brownish with yellow markings; a few species with reddish markings
Habits: Paper wasps eat nectar and other insects, including caterpillars and flies. Future queens will seek out warmer places to spend the winter in the autumn and may find their way indoors.
In the spring, they emerge to build their umbrella-shaped nests. Paper wasps build their comb nests to hang from objects like twigs and branches of trees and shrubs, porch ceilings, the tops of window and doorframes, soffits, eaves, attic rafters, deck floor joists, railings, and more. Each nest has open, uncovered cells where the eggs are laid.
Yellowjackets
There are several species of yellowjackets. These flying insects have a yellow and blackhead/face and pattern on their abdomen. It's important to understand how to get rid of yellowjackets to avoid being stung. You can find more information via the link for yellowjackets.
Characteristics
Size: Workers 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch long
Color: Abdomen usually black and yellow pattered similar to bands
Habits: Yellowjackets are social insects that live in nests or colonies with up to 4,000 workers. They are most active in late summer and early fall when a colony is at its peak. Yellowjackets commonly invade outdoor events to feed on sweets and proteins.