Buzzing Buddies or Pesky Predators? Understanding Bees and Wasps
- dan35256
- Jun 25
- 6 min read
We often lump them together, but bees and wasps, though both fascinating members of the insect order Hymenoptera, took very different evolutionary paths millions of years ago. While both can deliver a painful sting and sometimes be a nuisance in the summer, they also play incredibly important roles in our ecosystems.
Here at Stratton Pest Control, we believe in understanding these creatures to better manage any issues they might present. Let's delve into the key differences between bees and wasps – from their appearance and nests to their behaviour and stings – and share some friendly tips for keeping unwanted stinging insects away from your home or business.
Spotting the Difference: Bees vs. Wasps
From a distance, bees and wasps can look remarkably similar, with their striped markings. However, get a bit closer, and you'll notice some striking distinctions:
Bees: Generally, bees have rounder, fuller bodies, thicker legs, and, most notably, are covered in fuzzy hairs. These hairs are essential for collecting pollen, their primary food source.
Wasps: In contrast, wasps are typically much slimmer with distinct, narrow waists and thin, smooth, and shiny bodies that lack the noticeable hair of bees.
Hornets: It's worth remembering that hornets are actually a larger type of wasp, often appearing more robust.
Life Cycles and Lifestyles: A Tale of Two Diets
Bees and wasps share a similar basic life cycle: eggs hatch into larvae, which become pupae, and eventually emerge as adults. The length of this process can vary depending on the season.
The most significant difference, however, lies in their food preferences:
Bees are herbivores, feeding on pollen and nectar. When a female bee lays an egg, she'll provide a 'nectar loaf' nearby for the developing larva to eat.
Wasps, on the other hand, are largely predators. They hunt and consume other insects and larvae. Rather than nectar, a mother wasp will leave a paralysed insect, such as a grasshopper, beside her eggs. This unfortunate insect remains alive but unable to move, ensuring a fresh meal for her offspring.
It's a common misunderstanding that all bees and wasps live in large colonies. While honeybees and bumblebees are social, many other bee species lead solitary lives, often nesting underground. Similarly, while paper wasps, yellowjackets (a type of wasp common in the UK), and hornets are social, thousands of other wasp species are solitary, raising their young alone.
Home Sweet Home: Bee Nests vs. Wasp Nests
The way bees and wasps construct their homes is another clear differentiator:
Bee hives are typically built in sheltered locations like tree hollows, crevices, or even around tree branches. Worker bees ingeniously synthesise wax from digested honey, which they then mould into the familiar hexagonal cells of the hive. Bees are also quite resourceful, often reusing their hives for several seasons.
Wasp nests are usually suspended from tree branches, eaves, or overhangs, though some species like yellowjackets build their nests underground. Wasps create their distinctive paper-like nests by chewing wood pulp and mixing it with their saliva. A wasp colony will expand its nest as the queen's egg production increases. Unlike bees, wasps generally use their nests for a single season, with the colony dying out in the autumn. Wasp nests can also be found in sheds, building cavities and roof spaces. They can also be found in the ground.
This seasonal cycle for wasps explains why they might seem more aggressive in the autumn. After the queen dies, the remaining wasps are left to fend for themselves and often become desperate in their search for sugary foods.
Their diet swaps from primarily insects in the beginning of the season, and move to sugars at the later part as they don't require insects for larvae.
The Sting: What You Need to Know
The final notable difference between bees and wasps lies in their stings.
Honeybees have barbed stingers that get lodged in their target, meaning they can only sting once before they die. They typically only sting in self-defence.
Wasps and bumblebees, however, have smooth stingers, allowing them to sting multiple times. They can also be more aggressive.
It's important to remember that in all species of bees and wasps, only the female can sting.
While the experience of a bee or wasp sting doesn't differ significantly – both involve venom being injected into the skin, causing a painful, swollen welt – if you experience any severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, widespread swelling, or dizziness, please seek immediate medical help.
Protecting Our Pollinators While Keeping You Safe
At Stratton Pest Control, we are keenly aware of the vital role pollinators play in our environment and food chain. Our commitment is to both protect these essential creatures and ensure the safety and well-being of our customers through smart and responsible pest control. We firmly believe these two commitments are not mutually exclusive.
Here's how we uphold these principles:
Thorough Inspection: Our technicians carefully inspect your property to identify any pollinator-friendly plants before applying any treatments.
Targeted Treatment: We avoid treating the flowering parts of plants unless the treatment is specifically designed to be safe for flowers and pollinators.
Hive Protection: We will never apply treatments in the vicinity of managed bee hives. We will also communicate with local beekeepers and take all necessary precautions to protect existing hives.
Environmental Awareness: Before applying any treatments, we consider environmental factors like wind to ensure pesticides remain in their intended target area and do not spread.
Bee Relocation: When feral bee hives pose a genuine threat to human health or safety, we always do our utmost to relocate the hive. We work closely with local beekeepers, apiarists, and agricultural organisations to preserve the local ecosystem as best as possible.
Common Questions About Wasps and Bees
Here are some common queries we hear:
Do Wasps Pollinate? Yes, they do! While they don't gather pollen like bees, wasps still transfer pollen as they move between plants, making them important, albeit less efficient, pollinators.
Do Wasps Make Honey? Most wasps don't produce honey, but a few rare varieties, like the Mexican honey wasp, can. However, they only make small amounts for their own consumption.
How Long Do Wasps and Bees Live? Most worker wasps live for only a few weeks, while the queen can survive for about a year, laying eggs for new queens. Bees generally live longer, typically a couple of months and up to 200 days. Queen bees can hibernate and return for several years to repopulate their hives.
Does Wasp Spray Kill Bees? Yes, it can, though it might take longer for bees to succumb. Importantly, bees under attack release a pheromone that signals the rest of the hive to defend. Read our article on the dangers of DIY pest control.
What is the Difference Between Wasps and Hornets? All hornets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets. Hornets are simply a larger variety of wasp, typically wider around their heads and abdomens.
How Do You Get Rid of Wasps and Bees? The safest and most effective way is to call your local pest control professional. An experienced technician with the proper protective equipment can safely and humanely remove nests.
How Do You Keep Bees and Wasps Away? Some anecdotal deterrents include dryer sheets, mothballs, and essential oils like clove, peppermint, and lemongrass. Plants like geraniums, cucumber, basil, marigolds, eucalyptus, citronella, and mint planted in your garden are also said to repel stinging insects. However there is little or no scientific evidence to back up these claims and most can be considered “old wives' tales”.
Expert Wasp and Bee Control You Can Trust Don't take chances with stinging insects. Whether you've spotted a nest near your garage or a swarm is disrupting your garden party, calling in the professionals is always the safest option.
Contact Stratton Pest Control today to discuss your bee or wasp removal needs and enjoy peace of mind all season long. We're here to help!
We help homes and businesses throughout the South East and East of England, predominantly in the following counties:
