Most people who call us with bee problems actually have Yellow Jackets. 

Yellow Jackets are a small wasp, very close in size to a bee.  The differences can be hard to detect.  Bees have a thick waist and if you look closely: fur.

Bees are herbivores and pollinators

Wasps, of all kinds, are predators.  Wasps are much more likely to sting.  Unless, of course, we're talking about killer bees.

Yellow Jackets are small and often mistaken for bees.

They can be highly aggressive especially late in the year as their food sources dwindle

They often nest in 3 quite common areas:  In the ground, under your eaves, or within the structure: (walls, attic, sub area).

In exposed areas their nests are built in paper envelopes.  Inside structures they are known to tunnel through sheet rock and explode into living spaces.

We now have at least 3 types of paper wasps in our area including some newer more aggressive species. 

These wasps can re-inhabit previous nests.

They typically make open honeycomb like nests.  These can often be found under eaves and in attics, but some species will hang there nests almost anywhere.

Bald Faced Hornets are a very large aggressive type of Yellow Jacket.  Hornet just means large wasp.

They often make there nests in bushes, especially Rhodendrons.

They will chase you for a really long distance and they are known to attack due to vibration near their nest.