Yesterday I put my photo “39,451.03663 Paper Wasp Nest in my hand” on BugGuide for help in identification, and today I am adding this photo, because it shows the nest in better shape and apparently BugGuide does not have a better photo of a yellowjacket nest.

Identification has been given by BugGuide member Richard Vernier (6 January, 2008 - 3:45am....Thanks Richard!), who says two things are key in identifying this nest: 1) scalloped involucra [i.e., combined outer envelopes]; and 2) this is the only species West of the Rockies using rotten wood in its construction [hence the white to reddish brown color of the stripes, instead of gray].