Paper wasps belong to the insect family polistinae. This species of wasps are black and have orange or yellow markings on their skin. Paper wasps are aggressive and sting humans only when they feel their nest is threatened. Humans usually feel pain only in the area where they were stung by the wasps. Only female paper wasps have stingers, since they are also used for laying eggs. This wasp's name derives from their nest-building technique, which consists of gathering small fibers of wood and plant stems. Once they gather this material, paper wasps solidify the fibers and stems together by mixing it with their saliva.
The eastern cicada killer is usually referred to as a wasp but is also known as a ground hornet. This flying insects are ground dwellers and develop their nests in ground cavities. As their name suggests, the primary diet of eastern cicada killers are cicadas, an insect species known for damaging crops and forest vegetation. Eastern cicada killers use their stingers to paralyze their prey. However, males are usually more aggressive than females. Like other hornet or wasp species, only females are able to use their stingers since the stingers are also used for reproduction. At 1 to 1.5 inches, eastern cicada killers are the largest wasp species in Tennessee.
Tennessee is also home to yellow jackets, which belong to the Vespula genus of insects. Yellow jackets do not possess a large amount of venom in their sting and only cause serious damage to humans who have allergic reactions. Sometimes yellow jackets lose their stinger after stinging. Male yellow jackets are not able to sting. This wasp species is black with yellow stripes on its thorax and abdomen areas; this coloration causes humans to mistake yellow jackets for bees. Yellow jackets differ from other wasp species in that it has a thick waist that connects their abdomen and thorax areas.
According to the University of West Virginia, one to two out of every 100 people are allergic to stings from hornets and wasps. The primary reason wasp and hornet stings are painful is a chemical known as melitten. This chemical stimulates the human body's pain receptors. For non-allergic humans, pain from wasp and hornet stings only lasts a few days. When humans are allergic to hornet and wasp stings, they develop hives, headaches and abdominal cramps. Severe cases of allergic reactions may cause unconsciousness and anaphylactic shock, which is when blood pressure drops and the lungs are surrounded by fluids. People may go to a doctor's office to determine if they are allergic to wasp and hornet stings.