Bug FAQMedian Wasp
Dolichovespula media · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Vespidae
Source: Wikipedia
Median wasps are medium to large wasps about 16 to 22 mm long with yellow and black striped abdomens. They build exposed paper nests 1 to 5 m up in shrubs, trees, or under eaves and are most often seen from May to October.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They have a yellow face with a thin black line, large yellow patches behind the eyes, and a shiny black thorax with four orange-tinged yellow spots.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure about 16 to 22 mm (0.63 to 0.87 in) in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Nests are often built in open locations on shrubs or houses, making them easy to disturb and sometimes considered a pest.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
They are not usually aggressive but will sting if their nest is threatened. Stings feel like those of other wasps and can be treated with a cold compress and antihistamine for swelling.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Because nests are built in the open, people often destroy them, and the wasps are easily scared off without becoming aggressive.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Nests are paper structures built 1 to 5 m above ground in shrubs, trees, or sometimes under building eaves.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Workers collect insects, nectar, and wood for nest building, even when temperatures are as low as 7 °C.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are most commonly observed between May and October during their colony cycle.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to the Palearctic region, occurring across Europe and temperate Asia to Japan.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Queens may be mistaken for hornets because of their reddish color, but can be told apart by the thoracic spots and deep black body.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I identify a median wasp?
Look for a yellow face with a thin black line, large yellow areas behind the eyes, and a shiny black thorax with four orange-tinged yellow spots.
Source: Wikipedia
When are median wasps active?
They are most commonly seen from May through October during their 3.3-month colony cycle.
Source: Wikipedia
Do median wasps sting?
They will sting if their nest is threatened; the sting is similar to other wasps and can cause mild swelling.
Source: Wikipedia
How do I get rid of a median wasp nest?
Since nests are built in open spots, they can be removed by destroying the nest, and the wasps are easily scared away.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Vespidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_wasp
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.