# What insect looks like a small yellowjacket?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-insect-looks-like-a-small-yellowjacket/916206>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 24, 2020, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-insect-looks-like-a-small-yellowjacket/916206 "2020-07-24T11:22:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-insect-looks-like-a-small-yellowjacket/916206/1 "2020-07-24T11:22:43Z")

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Yesterday I got stung by an insect that looks like a yellowjacket wasp, in that it yellow and black stripes - except it was considerably smaller than the classic yellowjacket, and its sting didn’t hurt as bad. These are ground-nesting insects, hiding out in some of the landscaping in my yard; they stung me on my ankle last year as I passed by with my lawn mower, and that’s where they stung me again yesterday. I wiped out the nest last year by blasting it was spray at night, but either I didn’t completely destroy it, or a new colony moved in.

Wondering what these guys are, and how I can better control them.

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**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-insect-looks-like-a-small-yellowjacket/916206/2 "2020-07-24T12:11:55Z")

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Sweat bee?

> **[Halictidae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halictidae)**
>
> Pages for logged out editors learn more
> 
> 		 
> Halictidae is the second-largest family of bees (clade Anthophila) with nearly 4,500 species. Halictid species are an extremely diverse group that can vary greatly in appearance. These bees occur all over the world and are found on every continent except Antarctica.\[citation needed\] Usually dark-colored (frequently brown or black) and often metallic, halictids are found in various sizes, colors and patterns. Several species are all or partly green...