Yellow jackets?

[firstfrost]

So, we have some of these guys living in the siding under the window on the second floor. From my brief reading on the web, if they're not going to be a danger due to the chance of stinging (which was no doubt worst as I stuck my head out the window to get this picture), "do nothing, they'll die off in the winter and they don't come back to the same nest" seems to be a feasible option. But if they're actually going to be causing damage by nibbling holes in the house, then presumably I should worry more. (For a while, I thought they were bees, which would have been more of a problem, because they don't leave and then you have wax and honey stuffed into your walls...). Does anyone have more authoritative-sounding opinions than "stuff I just read on the internet"? :)

Comments

Allergies

[ringrose.livejournal.com]

It does mean I'm less likely to come by your house. I've been stung three times over my life, and the welt's been bigger each time.

Re: Allergies

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

They're not actually getting into the house, which I would consider a stinging hazard. I expect the flowers in the front yard are a bigger hazard of attracting stinging-things near people, as I've frequently seen bees there and never actually seen the yellowjackets around when I was outside.