Stinging insects, such as bees, yellowjackets, and other aggressive wasps, pose a significant threat to humans in the outdoor environment. Social wasps and bees will sting when provoked or especially when the colony is threatened. Although otherwise beneficial, many of these social wasps and bees build colonies and forage very close to human activities, such as around homes, schools, parks, concession stands, festivals, and the like. The standard type of control for stinging insects tends to focus on reactive pesticide use. Several alternative approaches exist but it is unclear to what extent they work. Integrated pest management strategies are also available, but many practitioners do not use them. Most homeowners know nothing about the types of stinging insects, the risks each may pose, and ways to reduce their impact before resorting to a pesticide. In 2006 the work of NYS IPM specialists helped push forward our understanding of how traps can be used to manage wasps in outdoor settings and whether repellant trash bags can reduce foraging. In addition, a draft manuscript was written for a publication that will serve as an IPM reference tool for anyone dealing with wasps and bees in the Northeast.