[header] How to identify wasps [title] Look for yellow and black. [step] Identify yellowjackets and european paper wasps by the yellow and black bands on the wasps' abdomens. Cicada killers are a type of digger wasp that resembles a larger, wider yellowjacket. 
Identify the european hornet by its yellow and black striped tail and red-brown thorax. You'll also see black and yellow mud daubers.