General
Adult worker wasps have the characteristic patterning on the abdomen, a black head and thorax. They are between 15-20mm long. The fore and hind wings are held together by a row of minute hooks giving the appearance of only one wing per side of the wasp. The wings are heavily veined.

Significance
Wasps are colonial insects living in social groups. They usually produce grey aerial nests, which have a regular laminar construction. They may be suspended from trees, nestboxes, beehives, rafters and dormer windows. If nests are formed underground, the envelope is always visible. The wasps can cause alarm when present in large numbers. If the nest is in a place where the individuals from it interfere with humans, they can inflict painful and sometimes dangerous stings.

The most usual application of treatment for wasps is an insecticidal dust to the  nest, around and into the entry. Liquid surface sprays can also be used. For control of adult wasps, space sprays can be used indoors or surface sprays can be applied in localised areas.