Though both are feared for their painful strings, wasps and bees are separated by 130 million years of evolution that has brought about differences in behavior, anatomy and nest structure. Bees are an essential part of the life cycle of many plants while wasps and hornets do not pollinate and when found nearby are often a nuisance to humans. There are some differences between wasps and hornets as well, but these are academic for most people because both insects are aggressive, stinging pests. Let’s take a look at the three main methods of distinguishing wasps from bees.

Behavior

Honey bees live in large colonies called hives with many thousands of members who cooperate to collect nectar and pollen to make honey. They will fight to defend their hives if they feel threatened, but otherwise most honey bees are less aggressive than wasps. The honey bee’s stinger is barbed on the end and will tear out from the insect after stinging, resulting in the bee’s death. Thus the honey bee’s stinger, a one-use weapon, encourages more defensive rather than offensive behavior.

Wasps on the other hand are predators who do not collect nectar, spread pollen or make honey. They survive by eating other insects and in the case of some wasps, scavenging too. Wasps tend to be more aggressive and their straight-tipped stingers are able to deliver multiple, painful stings without injuring the insect.

Anatomy

There are several key differences between bees and wasps. Bees, both bumble bees and honey bees, are fuzzy while wasps and hornets, including yellow jacket wasps, are smooth. Wasps can be yellow and black or entirely black while bees have both colors and stripes on the their abdomen. With the exception of yellow jacket wasps, most wasps are larger than honey bees with longer legs and a much more tapered midsection that connects the thorax with the abdomen. The wasp’s overall aggressive look belies its temperament and they have the multi-use stinger to back it up.

Nests and Hives

You can determine the species of bee or wasp by looking at its shape, location and building material. Honey bees and their fatter, fuzzier cousins the bumble bees, can be found in hives made of a waxy substance. A honey comb pattern of cells may be found in trees, an attic or even exposed in a bush if they cannot find a better location, but it should not look papery.

Wasps and hornets can be found in nests made of a papery substance and shaped either like an umbrella with open cells on the bottom or smooth with paper walls in a bulbous shape. These are often located in the corners or eves, roofs or other structures and such a papery nest may hold a few hundred of these predators. Yellow jacket wasps can find refuge in attics but they also make their nests in the ground and these can hold thousands stinging predators. It is important to note that wasp and hornet nests will not contain honey or wax.

If you need reliable bee and wasp control in Houston, call Preventive Pest Control to schedule a free inspection.