Quck answer
Bees and wasps both belong to the order Hymenoptera, but they have distinct differences. Bees are typically fuzzy and have rounder bodies, while wasps are smoother and have more elongated bodies. Bees feed on nectar and pollen, while wasps are predators and feed on other insects. Bees are known for their ability to produce honey, while wasps do not produce any food products. Bees also die after stinging, as their stinger is barbed and gets stuck in the skin, while wasps can sting multiple times as their stinger is not barbed. Overall, bees are more docile and less aggressive than wasps.
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A patient receives a bee sting from an apitherapy practitioner at Cibubur Bee Center in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 15, 2007. Check out more insect pictures.
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Imagine yourself lying on a blanket during a summer picnic, relaxing in the sun with your eyes closed after savoring a turkey sandwich. Suddenly, you hear a buzzing sound near your ear. You sluggishly try to get rid of the noise and then, ouch! You feel a sharp sting on your cheek. As your face turns red and swells, you don’t care if the insect that caused it was a bee or a wasp.
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But we at HowStuffWorks are quite curious about it. Was it a bee or a wasp that stung you? What sets apart these two stinging and buzzing creatures?
In the above scenario, the culprit was most likely a wasp. Why? Because wasps are generally more aggressive and tend to frequent public gatherings in search of human food. Bees are more docile and concentrate on flowers instead of your turkey sandwich.
That’s only one way of determining whether the attacker was a bee or a wasp. What other characteristics differentiate these two very similar creatures, both belonging to the order Hymenoptera? Although there are over 25,000 types of each insect, there are some relatively easy ways to tell them apart.
On the following page, you will learn how physical features, eating habits, and nest locations separate bees from wasps. You will also discover which insect boasts a slim, tapered waist and which one has to live with flat, hairy legs.
Bees and Wasps: Feeding, Nests and the Sting
Bees have a hairy, sturdy body and flat legs that help them collect pollen.
Kim Taylor/Dorling Kindersley/ Getty Images
When a bee or a wasp stings you, you most likely don’t pay attention to the curve of its waist or the shape of its legs. However, if you did, you would notice some crucial characteristics to help you identify it. Bees have sturdy, hairy bodies with flat legs in the back, whereas wasps have slim bodies with a narrow waist that connects the thorax and the abdomen. (The mid and rear segments of an insect are referred to as the thorax and the abdomen, respectively.) Furthermore, wasps look smooth and polished and have legs that are shaped like cylinders.
Wasps have a slim, smooth body and slender legs.
Frank Greenaway/Dorling Kindersley/ Getty Images
The reason why these insects have different body types leads us to another difference between wasps and bees: their eating habits. Bees are pollinators that spend most of their lives visiting various plants and flowers to collect and distribute pollen. They also feed their young with nectar and pollen. Their hairy bodies and flat legs are ideal for holding on to the pollen as they transfer it from one place to another.
Wasps, on the other hand, are predators. Although adults may occasionally feed on nectar or pollen, they feed insects, arthropods, flies, and even caterpillars to their young. Their bodies are sleeker and more streamlined for hunting purposes.
If you come across a nest of either bees or wasps, it can help you to identify which insect it belongs to. Bees construct their nests using wax cells that they pile on top of each other. While most honeybees’ nests are man-made, other species of bees prefer to make their homes in tree hollows, buildings, or even holes in the soil. A wasp’s nest, on the other hand, consists of one or more round combs made of a papery pulp. Wasps create this pulp by chewing fibers and mixing them with their saliva. They tend to build their nests in hidden, remote places like under decks or in crevices.
The final difference between bees and wasps answers the question of whether they die after stinging humans. Both bees and wasps have a stinger attached to their bodies that they use to inject venom. While wasps and most bees can inject their venom into your skin, remove the stinger, and fly away, honeybees have barbed stingers that remain in the skin. When a honeybee tries to fly away after stinging someone, the stinger stays behind, ripping from the bee’s body. Since the stinger is attached to the honeybee’s digestive system, it ultimately causes the bee’s death.
If you want to learn more about bees and wasps, you can check out some related articles and links on the next page. However, before you seek revenge on an insect that stung you, keep in mind that if the attacker was a honeybee or a yellow-jacket wasp and their nest is within 15 feet (4.6 meters), a scent alarm will be triggered within 15 seconds of your retaliation. This signal will alert other insects nearby, who will then hunt you down and sting you repeatedly.
FAQ
1. What are the main physical differences between bees and wasps?
Bees are generally rounder and fuzzier, with a more pronounced waistline, while wasps tend to be longer and more slender without much fuzz. Bees also have flat hind legs with pollen baskets, and their bodies are typically covered in branched hairs for collecting pollen. Wasps have smooth, shiny bodies and longer wings.
2. Do bees and wasps behave differently?
Yes. Bees are generally docile and will only sting if they feel threatened or if their hive is disturbed. Wasps, on the other hand, are more aggressive and will sting multiple times if provoked. They are also more likely to build their nests in high traffic areas, like near doorways or under eaves.
3. What do bees and wasps eat?
Bees feed on nectar and pollen from flowers, while wasps are carnivorous and feed on other insects, spiders, and even small animals like caterpillars or grubs.
4. How do bees and wasps communicate?
Both bees and wasps use pheromones to communicate with each other. Bees also communicate through a dance called the waggle dance, which tells other bees where to find sources of food.
5. Are bees and wasps important for the environment?
Yes, they are both important pollinators and help to maintain the balance of ecosystems. Without bees and wasps, many plants would not be able to reproduce.
6. Can bees and wasps coexist in the same area?
Yes, they can. Bees and wasps may even visit the same flowers for food. However, if a wasp nest is disturbed, the wasps may become aggressive and attack nearby bees.
7. How can you tell if a bee or wasp is about to sting?
Bees will often buzz around before stinging, while wasps may make a clicking noise with their wings. Both may also raise their hind legs as a warning sign.
8. What should you do if you encounter a bee or wasp?
Stay calm and still. Do not swat at the insect, as this may provoke it to sting. If you need to move away, do so slowly and without making sudden movements. If you are stung, remove the stinger and wash the area with soap and water.
9. How can you prevent bees and wasps from nesting in your home?
Seal any cracks or openings in your home’s exterior, and keep your garbage cans sealed and away from the house. If you do encounter a nest, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Call a professional pest control service to safely remove it.
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