Insects and their nests are often points of concern for homeowners. Many people see bees and wasps as pests that must be eliminated, but it’s likely they won’t hurt you unless you’re working near their nest. Bees are actually very important to the ecosystem since they pollinate flowers and ensure the plants’ survival, not to mention the honey they give us. Wasps and bees are distinct creatures, and it’s useful to know how to tell them apart.

What Bees and Wasps Look Like

The main difference between bees and wasps is that wasps hunt insects and bees collect pollen, to put it simply. Due to their different ways of finding food, wasps and bees have developed very different bodies, despite the fact that their usual yellow-and-black coloring gives us the impression they’re all the same.

One of the easiest ways to know which insect you’re inspecting is to look at its waist. If it has a narrow waist that’s much smaller than the rest of its body, you’re looking at a wasp. Bees have waists that are about the same size as the rest of their bodies.

If it’s flying, look at its legs. Wasps have long rear legs that dangle when they fly, but it’s likely you won’t see bees’ hind legs when they’re flying. The “fuzziness” of the insect is also a key to determining the type. Most bees have lots of short, soft-looking hairs on the thorax, the part of the body just behind the head, which doesn’t appear on most wasps. This hair is helpful in collecting pollen.

The Nests of Bees and Wasps

Nest Of Paper Wasps

The homes these stinging insects construct are also quite unique. Even different kinds of wasps create different kinds of nests. Paper wasps build umbrella-shaped nests made of hexagonal cells in the eaves of buildings, and hornets build more vertically oriented nests shaped like footballs in trees.

Bees make nests out of beeswax, giving the nest a wetter appearance. A beehive consists of densely packed hexagonal cells, and each of these cells is called a honeycomb. Where these hives are located depends on who built it. Bumble bees often build their nests in more open areas like thick grass, sheds, or abandoned animal dens, while honey bees build their nests in better protected areas like a tree hollow or a beekeeper’s box.

Be curious about your fellow critters! Use these tips to figure out who they are the next time you meet.

Need help with stinging pests? Call Preventive Pest Control for effective wasp and bee control in Phoenix.