Yellow jackets, wasps mark big comeback year

Equipped with sharp stingers, craving sugar and searching for water sources in a parched landscape, yellow jackets and paper wasps have been increasingly visible since a run of hot weather kicked in more than a week ago.

"Compared to recent years, the number of wasps is considerably up," said Richard Zack, WSU entomologist.

He added wasps become more agitated in late summer and into fall, increasing the likelihood of encounters with humans, said Zack.

"They don't like the intense heat and need water to cool off their nests where colonies have reached their maximum size. It has been a hot, dry...