Understanding the Difference: Honey Bees vs. Wasps vs. Hornets

When you have a yellow and black buzzing insect flying around your face, you likely aren’t going to be too picky about identification. In fact, most people call anything that fits that description a bee and leave it at that. While that isn’t always the case, when someone says, “watch out, a bee,” we all typically get the point, and we want to keep our distance. 

But when it comes to bee control on Cleveland properties, we need to know exactly what we’re dealing with. Understanding the differences between bees, wasps and hornets will help property owners and bee control companies know what they’re up against, and how best to remedy a problem situation. 

Here’s the rundown of what you need to know when you’re trying to identify a flying, stinging insect, so that when you search online for “bee control in Cleveland,” you’ll be able to offer an informed opinion of the sort of insect you’re having problems with. It’s also pretty interesting to learn more about the natural world that we can sometimes overlook in the rush of daily life. So let’s get into it! Here’s what to know about bees, wasps, and hornets.

Bee Identification and Life Facts

There are an estimated 4,000 species of native bees in the United States, and 500 species that can be found in Ohio alone. We can’t go through all of them, but there are a few species you will often see around your home or business. Bumble bees and carpenter bees are two of these. The other, more common bee that many people are familiar with is the non-native European honeybee. These are the bees that make that sweet food–honey–that we love to harvest and eat as much as they do. 

In general, the bees that you’re most likely to encounter around your home are going to be black and yellow striped, have a somewhat round body shape, and will be fuzzy, thanks to their coat of tiny hairs. Bees are vegetarians–they eat nectar and pollen. Nectar is the carbohydrate they need to get their daily work done, and pollen is the protein that they use to stay healthy and nourish their young. While they go about their business collecting pollen and nectar, their fuzzy bodies gather and hold pollen. Some of this pollen they’ll brush off and store for later, but inevitably some pollen will make it to the next flower they visit, which allows plants to be pollinated and produce seeds and fruits. 

Another important fact about bees is that the honey bees and bumble bees we see in our yards and gardens are social species. This means that they live together in a collective nest or hive. This fact alone makes them prone to aggressive behavior if they feel as though their home is threatened, since they have the queen and babies to protect. Us getting too close to the nest and the bees feeling the need to warn us is probably one of the more common ways that we come into contact with bees. We might call it an attack, but the bees would probably say it was self-defense. Honey bees make waxy combs that hold honey and developing bees, often found in trees or inside structures, while bumble bees have underground nests that include wax structures, but also make use of other natural materials, like dried grass, leaves, and animal fur. 

Regardless of the type of bee, if you get too close, they’ll let you know. But let’s put this pervasive myth to bed–not all bees die after stinging! If a honey bee stings you, because the stinger is barbed, it sticks in your skin and eviscerates the bee–they will die shortly after stinging. However, this is not the case for other bees that generally have smooth stingers. They will live to sting another day. It’s also worth noting that not all species of bees even have stingers, but if they do, they’re reliably female.

Wasp Identification and Life Facts

While they are in the same order of insects (Hymenoptera) as bees and hornets, wasps are in a different family (Vespidae) than bees (Apidae). Wasps often share some coloration with their bee cousins, but that’s really where the visual similarities end. Because wasps are omnivores, they hunt for insect prey along with enjoying flower nectar and pollen. Their thinner, smoother, more lithe bodies allow them to be fierce predators in the yard and garden. If you see a yellow and black flying creature feasting on a caterpillar, aphid, spider, or other insect, they definitely isn’t a bee.

Beyond these dietary differences, wasps are typically larger than the bees you’ll encounter. Their longer, slender body shape and narrow, defined “waist” also give them away. Unlike fuzzy bees who need to collect pollen and serve as effective pollinators for plants, wasps are smooth and shiny with only a very limited amount of hair–this is due to their differences in diet and lifestyle. Another key difference is that while many bees tuck their legs in while flying, wasps let theirs dangle. This is an easy way to tell them apart while they’re in flight. And wasps, like hornets and many bees, are able to sting multiple times, thanks to their smooth stinger. While, unlike bees, they are capable of biting, since they are hunters of other insects, they typically do not bite humans.

As far as social structure goes, many wasps do live in colonies, but the organizational structure isn’t as complex as that of the honey bee. And though many wasps are social insects, some wasps are solitary, independent hunters. On the aggressiveness scale, wasps typically rank higher than bees, and that’s especially true if they feel that their nest is under attack. Wasp nests can be made using natural materials like mud or paper, and they can be the classic spherical structure hanging in a tree, the upside-down umbrella-shaped mass on your house’s eaves, or even tubular formations.

Hornet Identification and Life Facts

All hornets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets. Hornets are in the same family (Vespidae) as wasps and share many similarities with their insect brethren. Beyond similar coloration, both also have smooth-bodied, have narrow “waists,” are omnivores, and have smooth, retractable stingers. While hornets can, like wasps, use their mandibles to bite insect prey, they don’t bite humans. The pain you feel when they attack is from their stinger. And speaking of stinging, hornets are aggressive like wasps and prone to attacking humans or other creatures who disturb or threaten their nest. Much like other wasps, hornets typically live as colonies in a nest with the queen, though some varieties can be more solitary. Hornets are generally larger than other wasps, and so they make a distinctively loud buzzing sound, due to their sheer size alone. 

Bees, Wasps and Hornets In The Environment

Now that you can better identify these three related insects, let’s learn a little more about their function in their various environments. Bees are expert (albeit accidental) pollinators, helping plants to reproduce and proliferate. In our vegetable gardens, large scale farms and fruit orchards, bees are vital to food production. On the other hand, wasps and hornets, while not serving as the greatest pollinators (they do spread some pollen), are key players in pest management. They hunt and eat a whole host of insects that can otherwise decimate crops and ornamental plants. Hornets and some wasps also help to remove decomposing organic matter and serve as part of nature’s clean up crew. But that’s not all–bees, wasps and hornets also serve an important link in the food chain for larger creatures who prey on them. It’s all a cycle, and these insects play a pivotal role.

Now, in your home environment, it could seem that bees, wasps and hornets are all pests. And if you are having a late summer BBQ, then yes, that could be true. It’s also not ideal to have these creatures nesting and living in or near your home and other structures. When they become a problem and begin to threaten your family’s safety, then knowing who to call for bee control in Cleveland is a necessity.

For Bee Control In Cleveland, Call Cleveland Bee Removal

If you find honey bees on your property, whether swarming outdoors or nesting inside a structure, please make it a goal to relocate, not to kill. Your go-to response might be to search for a bee exterminator in Cleveland, but it’s better to look for someone who can tackle bee control in Cleveland. As bee control specialists and beekeepers, the team at Cleveland Bee Removal are dedicated to client satisfaction while also doing the responsible thing for the bees. We aim to have the least impact on our local bee population and can also help when you encounter wasps, hornets, and more. Contact us today to learn more about our services.