![]() These yellow and black insects are easily confused for each other and while they’re closely related (both belonging to the insect order Hymenoptera), a few key traits set them apart. How to tell the difference between bees and waspsīefore we get into bees, it’s important to understand the differences between bees and wasps. Box-headed blood bee (Sphecodes monilicornis).Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes).Squash bee (genera Peponapis and Xenoglossa).Southeastern blueberry bee (Habropoda laboriosa).Common types of bees found in backyards and gardens.How to tell the difference between bees and wasps. ![]() You’ll get a clear breakdown below with simple tips for IDing them, including pictures, descriptions, and behavioral characteristics that differentiate each species. But how can you tell what’s what?īookmark this helpful visual guide, which can help you identify the most common types of bees found in your backyard. That’s why if you do come across an aggressive bee and get stung, it’s more likely that you accidentally smushed it or mistook it for a wasp (like a yellowjacket). They’re interested in the plants in your lawn and garden, and prefer to keep to themselves, visiting flowers and feeding on nectar. Most bees are not aggressive and are not interested in people at all. Of these, only 8 species of bees produce honey, and none of them are native to the US-though we do have 4,000 other bee species that are native. They help pollinate 80 percent of flowering plants and 75 percent of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts grown in the United States.īut while most people think of the common honeybee when they think of bees or pollinators, honeybees are only a tiny segment of many thousand species of bees found in the world.Ībout 20,000 different species, in fact. If a nest is located near human activity, it is important to contact a professional pest control company for stinging insect control or nest removal.It goes without saying that bees are vital to the balance of ecosystems across the globe. In the autumn, the combination of cooler temperatures and reduced food stimulates newly emerged reproductive wasps to seek warm shelter, and they are more likely to invade homes.Īs with many stinging insects, these pests will sting if they feel threatened or their nest is in danger. They also consume ripe fruit in gardens, farms, and vineyards. People who are allergic to bee stings may have similar reactions to a bald-faced hornet sting.īald-faced hornets scavenge in trash receptacles and forage upon food and beverages consumed outdoors. Bald-Faced Hornet Behavior, Threats, or Dangersīald-faced hornet stings are venomous and can cause pain and swelling for about 24 hours. When the nest is finished, it will be the size of a football or basketball. Bald-faced hornets will construct nests in trees, under eaves, around light structures on buildings, and inside children’s playhouses. Nests are created in spring and early summer by worker hornets chewing on natural wood fibers. These hornets build gray-colored, egg-shaped nests that can become quite large, some growing to 24 inches in length and 30 inches in diameter. The bald-faced hornet is more likely to build its large, paper nest around areas where humans live, work, and play. These beneficial wasps live in colonies with thousands of individuals and would be a lesser threat to humans if they did not nest in structural voids, attics, and cavities associated with landscaping features. Bald-faced hornets are relatively large flying insects and will defend their nests aggressively when they feel there is a threat. The bald-faced hornet greatly resembles its yellowjacket relatives and gets its name from the ivory-white markings on its face. Bald-Faced Hornets in Central and Eastern Virginia
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