Protecting Pollinators: Differences Between Bees and Wasps
Many people mistakenly lump all winged and stinging insects together, referring to wasps as bees and vice versa. However, there are many key differences between the bees and wasps. Not only do these differences separate their behavior, they also dictate the treatment to remove them. So you may ask: what’s the difference between bees and wasps?
Well, there are many of them, from size and color to diet and lifespan. The one big thing they actually have in common, though, is that they are important pollinators for our eco-system. More on that later. But first: let’s define the two.
Main Differences Between Bees and Wasps
From diet to behavior, there are many things that differentiate the two, both of which belong to the order Hymenoptera.
Appearance
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is their physical appearance. Bees are more full-bodied, hairy, and fuzzy, which helps them collect and spread pollen. In contrast, wasps are slim-bodied, with slender legs, and a shiny, non-hairy body.
Diet
Bees do not eat insects or spiders; instead, they consume plant pollens and nectar from surrounding flowering plants. For much of the year, wasps act as predators, feeding insects and arthropods to their young. However, once late summer and autumn hit, the queens halt laying eggs and the nest subsequently declines. This is when wasps become much more interested in collecting sweets and carbohydrates. This is why you often see aggressive yellow jackets scavenging around sweet foods and drinks.
Nests
Bees build their nests from wax, whereas wasp nests are constructed of paper-like materials comprised of chewed wood particles and saliva. Many nests are cyclical and are rebuilt year to year. However, perennial insects such as honey bees have nests that remain active for many years as long as the colony is healthy. To that point, wasps and bumblebees on the whole keep their nests for one year due to their annual life cycles.
Bee and Wasp Stings
Both insects sting when they are defending themselves and their colony. When stinging, bees leave their barbed stinger and venom sac in your skin, whereas wasps do not. They have a smooth stinger that allows them to sting over and over. Because honeybees’ stingers are torn from their abdomen, they die shortly afterwards. Consequently, each bee can only sting once in their life.
Commonly Seen Bees and Wasps
Bees you will most commonly encounter include honey bees and bumblebees. They are social bees, whereas ground nesting bees are solitary and prefer to create their galleries underground. While they don’t form colonies, they are still important pollinators of many plants.
The most commonly encountered wasps are hornets, yellow jackets, and paper wasps.
Common Denominators
Now that you know the differences, let’s talk about what they have in common. As alluded to before, bees and wasps are valuable to humans and the environment. Not only do they pollinate plants, they are predators of several insect pests that can infest crops, plants, and gardens.
Many people don’t realize that wasps are pollinators, giving all the credit to bees. However, they still pollinate as they travel from plant to plant, just like bees. However, because wasps don’t have nearly as much hair as bees, they don’t and can’t carry as much pollen.
Bees feed their young pollen, but wasps do not. Instead, they feed their young insects and other types of meat. While they don’t collect pollen nearly as well as bees and don’t do it intentionally, wasps do visit flowers to seek nectar to source their own energy, inadvertently transferring pollen from plant to plant. It may be a less efficient form of pollination, but it’s still an important part of our eco-system.
Beyond pollination, bees are extremely efficient at producing honey, a natural sweetener with several health benefits and antibacterial properties. In the end, the health and survival of bees are intricately linked to ours. That’s why it’s so important to understand these vital pollinators as they play a big role in ensuring the health of our planet.
Both species, particular wasps, offer one more benefit in common: they control nuisance and crop pest populations, aiding homeowners and farmers alike.
Never remove a wasp or bee nest on your property by yourself. They can and will sting to defend themselves if they feel their colony has been threatened. Instead, call a pest control expert in Tewksbury that is well trained in identifying and safely removing or relocating hives.
Get Expert Advice & Customized Solutions for Wasp Nest Removal From Best Known Pest & Wildlife
Not sure if you have a bee or a wasp infestation on your property? No worries. Our team is highly trained in identifying the types you have and how best to remove them. We will go over specific treatment options with you to ensure your property is bee- and wasp-free. Call Best Known Pest & Wildlife at 781-333-1998, fill out the online form, or email us at Bestknownpest@gmail.com.