Okay, probably not too impressive by your wasp-rearing standards, but when a female paper wasp got into the house, I picked her up and took her back outside to the warmest, sunniest spot in the yard. Her stinger did go in and out a bit, and I was a little nervous, but I just kept my hand still and she eventually climbed up onto a leaf. So I can confirm that one doesn't have to be a wasp-whisperer to gently handle females away from the nest.

(She was being chased by my cat when I noticed her, and I figured that even if she did sting, better my hand than the cat's face!)

. . . there's just so much great information provided by interesting and interested people! I didn't know male wasps couldn't sting. Nor that a female was docile when not near the nest.

Yesterday I learned that some field spiders eat their webs during the daytime so as not to attract predators. Wow.

may still sting you if she feels too threatened. But the stinger is a recycled ovipositor, so no, the male doesn't have one. Males do have longer anteannae. If you feel shure that your individual has those...go ahead and handle!

I'm not very well-versed in wasps, but in the paper wasps, only males have the curly-tipped antennae, so I knew it couldn't sting. I would probably not try it with a female!