Family

Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, and Allies

Vespidae

69 species in our catalog · found in 116 parks

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumArthropoda (Arthropods)
ClassInsecta (Insects)
OrderHymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies)
FamilyVespidae (Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, and Allies)

Species in this group

Apoica pallida

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Apoica pallens

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Synoeca septentrionalis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Vespa velutina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Brachygastra mellifica

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Dolichovespula norwegica

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespa simillima

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespula vulgaris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespa ducalis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespula germanica

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespa crabro

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Dolichovespula maculata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Agelaia angulata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespa basalis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespa mandarinia

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespula pensylvanica

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Epipona guerini

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespula maculifrons

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Vespa affinis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Dolichovespula arenaria

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Brachygastra lecheguana

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Synoeca cyanea

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Eumenes fraternus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespa tropica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespa multimaculata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Agelaia areata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Apoica gelida

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Eustenogaster eximia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespula rufa

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespa sexmaculata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespula alascensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Apoica thoracica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Agelaia pallipes

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespula consobrina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Mischocyttarus mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ropalidia sumatrae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Parapolybia nodosa

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespula flavopilosa

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespa soror

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Synoeca virginea

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Provespa anomala

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespula acadica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Parapolybia varia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ancistrocerus adiabatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ancistrocerus capensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Brachygastra azteca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ropalidia plebeiana

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespula vidua

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Apoica flavissima

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Vespa analis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Agelaia panamensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Mischocyttarus flavitarsis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Agelaia centralis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ropalidia distigma

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Dolichovespula adulterina

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ropalidia taiwana

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Provespa barthelemyi

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ropalidia socialistica

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Ancistrocerus campestris

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Agelaia cajennensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 60 species Show fewer

Showing the 60 most likely of 69 species — the park table below covers them all.

Daily sighting probability by month

Probability-weighted average across the group's species

~10%

Jan

~10%

Feb

~10%

Mar

~10%

Apr

~10%

May

~10%

Jun

~10%

Jul

~10%

Aug

~10%

Sep

~10%

Oct

~10%

Nov

~10%

Dec

When they're spotted

When the group's species are recorded (aggregated)

Where to see Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, and Allies

Warmer areas are where this group is recorded most often. Our parks Our cities

Parks Ranked

#	Park	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	15 of 69	~70%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~20%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Downy Yellowjacket			~10%
	Widow Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			~10%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			~10%
	Blackjacket			~10%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			~10%
	+3 more at the park page…
2	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	12 of 69	~60%
	European Hornet			~20%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Downy Yellowjacket			~10%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Northern Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			<5%
	Southern Yellowjacket			<5%
	Widow Yellowjacket			<5%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			<5%
3	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	7 of 69	~60%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			~20%
	Black-Bellied Hornet			~20%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~20%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	Parapolybia nodosa			~10%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	Ropalidia taiwana			~10%
4	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	10 of 69	~50%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Blackjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			~10%
	Forest Yellowjacket			~10%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			~10%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	Catskill Potter Wasp			<5%
5	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	5 of 69	~40%
	Agelaia angulata			~20%
	Synoeca cyanea			~10%
	Agelaia pallipes			~10%
	Apoica gelida			~10%
	Brachygastra augusti			~10%
6	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	5 of 69	~40%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Blackjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Forest Yellowjacket			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
7	Bavarian Forest National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	6 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Median Wasp			~10%
	Red-Banded Yellowjacket			~10%
	Saxon Wasp			<5%
8	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	3 of 69	~40%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~20%
	Agelaia angulata			~20%
	Apoica gelida			~10%
9	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	8 of 69	~40%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			<5%
	Forest Yellowjacket			<5%
	Blackjacket			<5%
	Northern Aerial Yellowjacket			<5%
	Western Paper Wasp			<5%
10	Sierra Nevada National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	3 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~20%
	Vespa sexmaculata			~10%
11	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	3 of 69	~40%
	Agelaia angulata			~20%
	Synoeca cyanea			~10%
	Agelaia pallipes			~10%
12	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	1 of 69	~40%
	Apoica pallida			~40%
13	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	5 of 69	~30%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			~10%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			~10%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			~10%
14	Cévennes National Park	🇫🇷 France	3 of 69	~30%
	European Hornet			~20%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			<5%
15	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 69	~30%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
16	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 69	~30%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~20%
17	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	6 of 69	~30%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			<5%
	Blackjacket			<5%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			<5%
18	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	4 of 69	~30%
	Apoica thoracica			~10%
	Synoeca virginea			~10%
	Apoica flavissima			~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
19	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 69	~30%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~20%
	Agelaia areata			~10%
20	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	4 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Red-Banded Yellowjacket			<5%
21	Nahuel Huapi National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	2 of 69	~30%
	German Yellowjacket			~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
22	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	1 of 69	~30%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~30%
23	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	5 of 69	~30%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Western Paper Wasp			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			<5%
24	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	3 of 69	~30%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
25	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~30%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~30%
26	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	2 of 69	~30%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~20%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
27	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	2 of 69	~20%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
28	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
	Agelaia centralis			~10%
29	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	1 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~20%
30	Cuc Phuong National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	1 of 69	~20%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
31	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 69	~20%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			~10%
32	Blue Mountains National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	2 of 69	~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~20%
	White-Faced Brown Paper Wasp			~10%
33	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	2 of 69	~20%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Blackjacket			~10%
34	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 69	~20%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Mexican Paper Wasp			~10%
35	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 69	~20%
	Mexican Honey Wasp			~20%
36	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~20%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~20%
37	Picos de Europa National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	2 of 69	~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
38	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
	Agelaia cajennensis			~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
39	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
	Agelaia areata			~10%
40	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 69	~20%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			<5%
41	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
	Protopolybia collombiana			<5%
42	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 69	~20%
	Norwegian Wasp			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
43	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	~20%
	Norwegian Wasp			~20%
44	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	2 of 69	~20%
	Vespa multimaculata			~10%
	Provespa anomala			~10%
45	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~20%
46	Nikko National Park	🇯🇵 Japan	1 of 69	~20%
	Yellow Hornet			~20%
47	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 69	~20%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			~10%
48	Tierra del Fuego National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	1 of 69	~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~20%
49	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 69	~20%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	Western Paper Wasp			~10%
50	Kosciuszko National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~20%
51	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 69	~20%
	Mexican Paper Wasp			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Southern Yellowjacket			~10%
52	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	2 of 69	~20%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
53	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	2 of 69	~20%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
54	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	~20%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
55	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	3 of 69	~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
56	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 69	~20%
	Agelaia angulata			~20%
57	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	3 of 69	~20%
	Agelaia panamensis			~10%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
	Agelaia yepocapa			<5%
58	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	1 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~20%
59	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	2 of 69	~20%
	Southern Giant Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			~10%
60	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	2 of 69	~20%
	Apoica thoracica			~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
61	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	~20%
	Western Yellowjacket			~20%
62	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~20%
	Epipona guerini			~20%
63	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 69	~20%
	Mexican Honey Wasp			~20%
64	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	1 of 69	~20%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~20%
65	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	2 of 69	~20%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
	Apoica thoracica			~10%
66	Abel Tasman National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	1 of 69	~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~20%
67	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 69	~20%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~20%
68	Rakiura National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	1 of 69	~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~20%
69	Fiordland National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	2 of 69	~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
70	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~20%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~20%
71	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	1 of 69	~10%
	Brachygastra lecheguana			~10%
72	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
73	Wilsons Promontory National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
74	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 69	~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
75	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	1 of 69	~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
76	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	1 of 69	~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			~10%
77	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	2 of 69	~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			<5%
78	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 69	~10%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~10%
79	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	2 of 69	~10%
	Barthelemy's Night Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			~10%
80	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	2 of 69	~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
81	Sinharaja Forest Reserve	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 69	~10%
	Eustenogaster eximia			~10%
82	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
83	Mercantour National Park	🇫🇷 France	1 of 69	~10%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
84	Triglav National Park	🇸🇮 Slovenia	1 of 69	~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
85	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	~10%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
86	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	2 of 69	~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			<5%
87	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 69	~10%
	Mexican Paper Wasp			~10%
	Southern Yellowjacket			~10%
88	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 69	~10%
	Mexican Honey Wasp			~10%
	Mexican Paper Wasp			~10%
89	Tatra National Park	🇸🇰 Slovakia	1 of 69	~10%
	Red-Banded Yellowjacket			~10%
90	Arthur's Pass National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	1 of 69	~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
91	Egmont National Park	🇳🇿 New Zealand	1 of 69	~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
92	Grampians National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
93	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~10%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
94	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	1 of 69	~10%
	Ropalidia sumatrae			~10%
95	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 69	~10%
	Northern Warrior Wasp			~10%
96	Great Otway National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
97	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	1 of 69	~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			~10%
98	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 69	~10%
	Aztec Honey Wasp			~10%
99	Royal National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~10%
	White-Faced Brown Paper Wasp			~10%
100	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 69	~10%
	Agelaia centralis			~10%
101	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 69	~10%
	Ropalidia distigma			~10%
102	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	1 of 69	~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
103	Cairngorms National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	1 of 69	~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
104	Daintree National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~10%
	Tree Brown Paper Wasp			~10%
105	Lamington National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~10%
	White-Faced Brown Paper Wasp			~10%
106	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	~10%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
107	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 69	~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
108	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	~10%
	Boll's Potter Wasp			~10%
109	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 69	~10%
	Ropalidia distigma			~10%
110	Springbrook National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 69	~10%
	White-Faced Brown Paper Wasp			~10%
111	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 69	~10%
	Ropalidia distigma			~10%
112	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 69	~10%
	Central American Paper Wasp			~10%
113	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 69	~10%
	Ropalidia distigma			~10%
114	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	<5%
	Boll's Potter Wasp			<5%
115	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	<5%
	Western Yellowjacket			<5%
116	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 69	<5%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			<5%

Cities Ranked

#	City	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	Hefei	🇨🇳 China	4 of 69	~70%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~40%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~30%
	European Hornet			~20%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			~20%
2	Boston	🇺🇸 United States	13 of 69	~70%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~20%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			~10%
	Widow Yellowjacket			~10%
	Downy Yellowjacket			~10%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	European Hornet			<5%
	Catskill Potter Wasp			<5%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			<5%
	+1 more at the city page…
3	Brussels	🇧🇪 Belgium	4 of 69	~60%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~40%
	European Hornet			~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
4	Baltimore	🇺🇸 United States	11 of 69	~60%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Southern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			~10%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			<5%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	Widow Yellowjacket			<5%
5	Nanjing	🇨🇳 China	7 of 69	~60%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	Black-Bellied Hornet			~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			~10%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			~10%
6	Toronto	🇨🇦 Canada	15 of 69	~60%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			<5%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	American Yellowjacket			<5%
	Catskill Potter Wasp			<5%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			<5%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	+3 more at the city page…
7	Washington	🇺🇸 United States	11 of 69	~60%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~20%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Southern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			<5%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			<5%
	German Yellowjacket			<5%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	Widow Yellowjacket			<5%
8	Philadelphia	🇺🇸 United States	11 of 69	~60%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	Southern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			<5%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			<5%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	Widow Yellowjacket			<5%
9	New York City	🇺🇸 United States	12 of 69	~60%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Southern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			~10%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			<5%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			<5%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	Widow Yellowjacket			<5%
10	Tuen Mun	🇨🇳 China	6 of 69	~50%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia nodosa			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			~10%
	Southern Giant Hornet			~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			~10%
11	Montreal	🇨🇦 Canada	12 of 69	~50%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			<5%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	Blackjacket			<5%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			<5%
	Catskill Potter Wasp			<5%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			<5%
12	Minneapolis [Saint Paul]	🇺🇸 United States	10 of 69	~50%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			~10%
	Catskill Potter Wasp			<5%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
	Widow Yellowjacket			<5%
13	Hong Kong	🇨🇳 China	7 of 69	~50%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia nodosa			~10%
	Southern Giant Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			<5%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			<5%
14	Yogyakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	3 of 69	~50%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~30%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			~10%
15	Berlin	🇩🇪 Germany	5 of 69	~50%
	European Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	Median Wasp			<5%
	Saxon Wasp			<5%
16	Kunming	🇨🇳 China	2 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~40%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~10%
17	Paris	🇫🇷 France	4 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~30%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
18	Essen	🇩🇪 Germany	4 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
19	Vancouver	🇨🇦 Canada	9 of 69	~40%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			<5%
	Western Paper Wasp			<5%
	Blackjacket			<5%
	Forest Yellowjacket			<5%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			<5%
20	Lyon	🇫🇷 France	4 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
21	Sendai	🇯🇵 Japan	4 of 69	~40%
	Yellow Hornet			~10%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~10%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
22	Taipei	🇹🇼 Taiwan	5 of 69	~40%
	Black-Bellied Hornet			~10%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			~10%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			~10%
23	Nagoya	🇯🇵 Japan	3 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~20%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
24	Kyiv	🇺🇦 Ukraine	5 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Vespa sexmaculata			<5%
	Median Wasp			<5%
25	Wuhan	🇨🇳 China	2 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~30%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~20%
26	London	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	4 of 69	~40%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Median Wasp			~10%
27	Hamburg	🇩🇪 Germany	4 of 69	~40%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~20%
	European Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Saxon Wasp			~10%
28	Guangzhou	🇨🇳 China	7 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia nodosa			~10%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			<5%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			<5%
	Southern Giant Hornet			<5%
29	Birmingham	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	5 of 69	~40%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Median Wasp			<5%
	Saxon Wasp			<5%
30	Chicago	🇺🇸 United States	8 of 69	~40%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
	🦋 Ancistrocerus capensis			<5%
	Ancistrocerus campestris			<5%
	Bramble Mason Wasp			<5%
	Downy Yellowjacket			<5%
31	Singapore	🇸🇬 Singapore	6 of 69	~40%
	Ropalidia sumatrae			~20%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			~10%
	Provespa anomala			~10%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			<5%
32	Warsaw	🇵🇱 Poland	5 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~20%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Vespa sexmaculata			<5%
	Median Wasp			<5%
33	Osaka	🇯🇵 Japan	5 of 69	~40%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~20%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	Yellow Hornet			~10%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			<5%
	European Hornet			<5%
34	Dehradun	🇮🇳 India	3 of 69	~40%
	Black-Bellied Hornet			~20%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
	Greater Banded Hornet			~10%
35	Seoul	🇰🇷 South Korea	6 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia varia			<5%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			<5%
36	Munich	🇩🇪 Germany	6 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	Median Wasp			~10%
	Saxon Wasp			<5%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			<5%
37	Anchorage	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 69	~40%
	American Yellowjacket			~20%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Dolichovespula adulterina			~10%
38	Cologne	🇩🇪 Germany	4 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
39	Xiuying District	🇨🇳 China	2 of 69	~40%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~20%
	Parapolybia nodosa			~20%
40	Tokyo	🇯🇵 Japan	5 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Vented Hornet			~10%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~10%
	Yellow Hornet			~10%
	European Hornet			~10%
	Black-Tailed Hornet			~10%
41	Vienna	🇦🇹 Austria	5 of 69	~40%
	European Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	Median Wasp			<5%
	Vespa sexmaculata			<5%
42	Barcelona	🇪🇸 Spain	2 of 69	~40%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~30%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
43	Edmonton	🇨🇦 Canada	6 of 69	~30%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
	Blackjacket			<5%
44	Detroit	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 69	~30%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Eastern Yellowjacket			~10%
	Fraternal Potter Wasp			~10%
45	Budapest	🇭🇺 Hungary	3 of 69	~30%
	European Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
46	Denpasar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	2 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	Greater Banded Hornet			~20%
47	Nanning	🇨🇳 China	1 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~30%
48	Porto	🇵🇹 Portugal	4 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	European Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			<5%
	Vespa sexmaculata			<5%
49	Helsinki	🇫🇮 Finland	5 of 69	~30%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~10%
	Saxon Wasp			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	Red-Banded Yellowjacket			~10%
	Median Wasp			~10%
50	Hangzhou	🇨🇳 China	3 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	Black-Bellied Hornet			~10%
	Asian Giant Hornet			~10%
51	Turin	🇮🇹 Italy	2 of 69	~30%
	European Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
52	Liverpool	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	3 of 69	~30%
	Common European Yellowjacket			~30%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	European Hornet			<5%
53	Hanoi	🇻🇳 Vietnam	1 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~30%
54	Zhuhai [Macau]	🇨🇳 China	3 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	Lesser Banded Hornet			~10%
	Parapolybia nodosa			~10%
55	Salt Lake City	🇺🇸 United States	5 of 69	~30%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			<5%
	Western Paper Wasp			<5%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			<5%
56	Calgary	🇨🇦 Canada	6 of 69	~30%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			~10%
	German Yellowjacket			<5%
	American Yellowjacket			<5%
	Blackjacket			<5%
57	Gwangju	🇰🇷 South Korea	1 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~30%
58	Busan	🇰🇷 South Korea	1 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~30%
59	Lisbon	🇵🇹 Portugal	3 of 69	~30%
	Yellow-Legged Hornet			~20%
	German Yellowjacket			~10%
	European Hornet			<5%
60	Seattle	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 69	~30%
	Bald-Faced Hornet			~10%
	Western Yellowjacket			~10%
	American Yellowjacket			~10%
	Common Aerial Yellowjacket			<5%

Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, and Allies

Species in this group

Apoica pallida

Central American Paper Wasp

Northern Warrior Wasp

Yellow-Legged Hornet

Mexican Honey Wasp

Norwegian Wasp

Yellow Hornet

Common European Yellowjacket

Black-Tailed Hornet

German Yellowjacket

European Hornet

Bald-Faced Hornet

Agelaia angulata

Black-Bellied Hornet

Asian Giant Hornet

Western Yellowjacket

Epipona guerini

Eastern Yellowjacket

Lesser Banded Hornet

Common Aerial Yellowjacket

Brachygastra lecheguana

Synoeca cyanea

Fraternal Potter Wasp

Greater Banded Hornet

Vespa multimaculata

Agelaia areata

Apoica gelida

Eustenogaster eximia

Red-Banded Yellowjacket

Vespa sexmaculata

American Yellowjacket

Apoica thoracica

Agelaia pallipes

Blackjacket

Mexican Paper Wasp

Ropalidia sumatrae

Parapolybia nodosa

Downy Yellowjacket

Southern Giant Hornet

Synoeca virginea

Provespa anomala

Forest Yellowjacket

Parapolybia varia

Bramble Mason Wasp

Ancistrocerus capensis

Aztec Honey Wasp

White-Faced Brown Paper Wasp

Widow Yellowjacket

Apoica flavissima

Yellow-Vented Hornet

Agelaia panamensis

Western Paper Wasp

Agelaia centralis

Ropalidia distigma

Dolichovespula adulterina

Ropalidia taiwana

Barthelemy's Night Hornet

Tree Brown Paper Wasp

Ancistrocerus campestris

Agelaia cajennensis

Daily sighting probability by month

When they're spotted

Where to see Hornets, Paper Wasps, Potter Wasps, and Allies

Parks Ranked

Cities Ranked