Western Yellow Jackets are found in western North America. They are active from spring through fall. They prey on insects and spiders, they are also scavengers to meat, if it is around. Western Yellow Jackets have underground paper nests, which may contain thousands of workers at peak season. They are very aggressive stingers and defend their nests actively.  They do not lose their stinger so they can sting multiple times in life. I  watched this one flitting around my yard, they seem to like my wood rose and Spanish lavender plants.