What is the smallest species of common paper wasp?

The yellow jacket is indeed the smallest species of common paper wasp. Understanding what constitutes a "common paper wasp" is crucial here. Paper wasps belong to the family Vespidae, which includes various wasps that construct their nests from paper-like material made from chewed wood fibers. In contrast to the other options, which do not fall into the category of paper wasps or are not wasps at all, yellow jackets are part of the wasp family that shares similar nesting characteristics.

The cicada killer is a larger wasp, primarily known for preying on cicadas, and does not fit into the category of paper wasps. The pharaoh ant and argentine ant are both types of ants, belonging to a different family altogether, which are distinct from wasps both in their behavior and nesting structures. Thus, understanding the taxonomy and characteristics of these insects highlights why the yellow jacket stands out as the smallest among the paper wasps.