The Difference Between Wasps and Bees

Is it Wasps or Bees?

You may be enjoying a picnic at the park while the weather is still nice and warm and come across a buzzing yellow and black friend; it’s good to know who is who because some of these are friendly pollinators, and their similar counterpart may cause chaos. 

Bee’s Vs Wasps at a Glance

• Bees have a wide, hairy body, have stout legs, and die after they sting you. 
• Wasps and hornets, on the other hand, can sting multiple times and have skinny bodies with narrow waists and tend to be mostly hairless. 

Their Life Cycle

Bee or Wasp, their basic life cycle is the same—egg, larva, pre-pupa, pupa, adult. Fertilized eggs produce female bees, while unfertilized ones produce males. And while some eggs hatch in days, others may wait until the next season. An egg laid in the spring can take all summer to reach the pre-pupal stage, and then it can stay that way until the following spring; some bees even remain pre-pupal for several years. 

Get To Know: Wasps

Wasps come in many different types, much like bees, and while some are solitary, most wasps are social and live and work in colonies. 

Their colonies have a queen, female worker bees, and drones. Solitary wasps nests can be found in the ground or in natural cavities, while social wasps attach papery nests from chewed fibres to tree limbs or the eaves of your house.

These papery nests are what you would see most commonly on your home. Always use care when managing these nests; as mentioned before, wasps can sting multiple times, and they will to defend their home. These are best dealt with by a professional.

Wasps are an essential part of our ecosystem. However, they can be a nuisance, especially when outdoor dining is at play, as they are attracted to sweets and meats. Be calm and do not swat at them as they will sting you!

Get to Know: Bees

There are many different types of bees (almost 4000 native to North America); however, they all follow a similar look pattern: wide, furry bodies and short legs. 

Bees look furry because they happen to be covered with feather-like hairs that attract pollen; this helps them bring pollen back to their nests and feed their young. Each female takes care of her eggs and gathers pollen to feed the larvae. 

While only the bumble bee and the honey bee live in hives made up of combs, most types of bees make their nests underground. Their colonies (like wasps) have a queen, female worker bees, and drones.

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