Eastern Yellowjacket Vespula maculifrons

These underground architects prefer nesting beneath the soil rather than in visible paper nests like their cousins. Colonies can reach thousands of individuals living in coordinated underground cities. What really sets them apart: they practice parental care and maintain a strict caste system much like honeybees. The downside? They're fiercely territorial and will deliver painful stings at any perceived threat—which is why they've earned a bad reputation in parks and patios across eastern North America.