Bees and wasps are often confused, but these insects play vastly different roles in nature. Whether youāre trying to identify them in your garden or protect yourself from potential stings, understanding their key differences can make a huge difference. Below is everything you need to know about these important pollinators and their more aggressive counterparts.
The Takeaway
- Bees help plants grow by moving pollen around, which makes more food. So, keeping bees safe is good for gardens and farms.
- Wasps are also helpful bugs. They eat bad insects in your garden. This means wasps help control pests, even though they can be meaner than bees.
- Proper infestation prevention (like sealing entry points and removing food sources) can stop nests from forming near your home.
- If you have an infestation, calling a professional is often the safest.
About Bees
Bees are some of the most important creatures in nature, contributing to pollination, which helps sustain countless plants. Understanding the types of bees found in the U.S. and their role in your garden can help you better appreciate these insects.
Types of Bees Common in the U.S.
| Bee Type | Description | Size | Behavior |
| Honeybees | Famous for producing honey and wax. | 1/2 inch | Social and live in large colonies. |
| Bumblebees | Known for their large size and fuzz. | 1ā1.5 inches | Social but less aggressive. |
| Carpenter Bees | Often mistaken for bumblebees, but larger and darker. | 1 inch | Solitary and drill into wood. |
| Mason Bees | Small, metallic blue or green in color. | 1/2 inch | Solitary, nest in pre-existing cavities. |
How Bees Affect Your Garden
- Pollinate flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees.
- Improve plant diversity by transferring pollen between plants.
- Promote healthy ecosystems, helping plants thrive and reproduce.
- Increase crop yields in agricultural settings.
- Attract wildlife by encouraging more bird species and other beneficial insects.
On Wasps
Wasps are often misunderstood. While some are beneficial, helping with pest control, others can be more aggressive. Knowing how to tell the difference between bees and wasps is key to understanding their role in your environment.
Wasps Common in the U.S.
| Wasp Type | Description | Size | Behavior |
| Yellowjackets | Small, black-and-yellow striped wasps. | 1/2ā5/8 inch | Aggressive, can sting multiple times. |
| Hornets | A type of large wasp with a more aggressive nature. | 1ā2 inches | Very territorial, will defend their nests aggressively. |
| Paper Wasps | Known for their paper-like nests. | 1 inch | Less aggressive, but will defend their nests. |
| Cicada Killers | Large wasps that prey on cicadas. | 2ā2.5 inches | Solitary, non-aggressive toward humans. |
How Wasps Affect Your Garden
- Help control pests by hunting insects like caterpillars, flies, and beetles.
- Reduce the spread of certain crop diseases.
- Can pollinate certain flowers, though not as efficiently as bees.
- Can damage plants by building nests in areas like tree branches or under eaves.
- Potentially harm pets and humans if they feel threatened.
Bees vs. Wasps: What Are the Differences?
| Feature | Bees | Wasps |
| Appearance | Fuzzier bodies with a rounder, more robust shape. | Sleeker, more elongated bodies, often with smoother surfaces. |
| Color | Yellow or black, covered in fine, fuzzy hair. | Bright yellow and black, often with metallic sheen or solid colors. |
| Wings | Two sets of wings, with smaller hind wings. | Two sets of wings, but the hind wings are larger and more defined. |
| Life Cycle | Live in large colonies with a single queen; worker bees are sterile females. | Solitary or live in small colonies, often without a permanent queen. |
| Stinging | Sting only once, as they die after stinging due to the barbed stinger. | Can sting multiple times as they have smooth stingers. |
| Behavior | Generally gentle and non-aggressive, stinging only when provoked. | More aggressive and territorial, often attacking when threatened. |
| Role in Nature | Primarily pollinators, critical for flowering plants and crops. | Pest control agents, helping to reduce populations of harmful insects, but also pollinate some plants. |
| Nests | Typically build hives in tree hollows, underground burrows, or man-made hives. | Nests are often constructed in sheltered areas like wall cavities, attics, or hanging under eaves. |
| Diet | Mainly nectar and pollen from flowers. | Nectar from flowers, but they also hunt and feed on other insects, particularly caterpillars. |
| Habitat | Prefer habitats with abundant flowers, such as gardens, fields, and meadows. | Favor more enclosed spaces, such as under roofs or inside walls, often in urban or suburban areas. |
| Aggression | Rarely aggressive unless provoked or protecting their hive. | Known for being more territorial and will defend their nests aggressively. |
| Lifespan | Worker bees live a few weeks, while queens can live up to several years. | Worker wasps live a few months, while queens can survive through the winter to start new colonies in spring. |
Signs of Bee or Wasp Infestation
It's good to know how to see if bees or wasps are making nests around your house. If you know the signs, you can do something before it becomes a big issue. Look for these clues that show they might be living nearby.
- See nests. Visible nests might be in trees. They could also be under the edges of roofs, or even inside your walls.
- More bugs around. You might notice more bees or wasps flying around your house or garden than normal.
- Listen for buzzing. Buzzing sounds might be coming from places you can't see, like your attic or shed.
- Watch for mean bugs. Wasps especially can get angry if you get close to their nests. Aggressive behavior near nests is a sign.
- Big groups flying. You might see lots of bees or wasps flying together in circles in certain spots. Presence of swarms is a sign.
What to Do About Bees or Wasps
If you have a problem with bees or wasps, be careful. Here is how to deal with it safely:
- Don't bother the nest! Bees, mostly, get very mad if they feel scared. Stay away from any nests you see.
- Get help from experts. People who know about bugs can move bee nests safely. Pest control experts can also take away wasp nests without hurting anyone.
- Wear safety stuff. If you have to move a nest yourself, put on clothes to protect you. Use long sleeves, gloves, and something to cover your face.
- Don't hit at them! Hitting at bees or wasps can make them want to sting you. Do not swat at bees or wasps.
- Use traps that don't hurt. There are traps you can buy that can catch wasps. Use non-toxic traps because these traps will not hurt the good bugs that help plants.
How to Stop Bees or Wasps Before They Start
Stopping them before they come is the best idea. Easy things can help stop these bugs from getting into your space. Here are some simple steps to keep them away:
- Close up holes. Find cracks and spaces around your windows, doors, and vents and seal them. This stops them from making nests there.
- Cut back plants. If you have trees and bushes close to your house, trim them. Trim trees and bushes near the home to make less places for nests.
- Take away food. Wasps like sweet things. Remove things like fruit or sugary drinks outside because these can bring wasps to your yard.
- Put out traps early. You can put out wasp traps when spring starts. Install wasp traps early in the spring to catch the queen wasps before they start new nests.
- Use good smells. Certain smells, like peppermint, eucalyptus, and citronella, keep wasps away. Use essential oils with these smells to repel wasps.
Final Words
Understanding the differences between bees and wasps can help you respect their roles in nature while keeping safe. With proper management and prevention strategies, itās possible to coexist with these insects without issue.