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Characteristics of common wasps and bees

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While observers can easily confuse common wasps and bees at a distance or without close observation, there are many different characteristics of large bees and wasps that can be used to identify them. NOTOC

Characteristics

Bees (Family: Apidae)	Wasps (Family: Vespidae)	Name	Western honey bee	Bumblebee	Paper wasp	Yellowjacket	Bald-faced hornet	European hornet	Asian hornet	Image	Colors	Coat	Size
[[File:Apis mellifera Female on white background.jpg	100px]]	[[File:Bombus fraternus, f, ga, baker, side (16429111109) -white background.jpg	100px]]	[[File:Polistes dominula MHNT.jpg	100px]]	[[File:European wasp white bg.jpg	100px]]	[[File:Bald-faced Hornet (Vespidae, Dolichovespula maculata (Linnaeus)) (32512319833) white background.jpg	100px]]	[[File:AD2009Aug08 Vespa crabro 01.jpg	100px]]	[[File:Fondatrice de Vespa vélutina.png	100px]]
Amber to brown translucent alternating with black stripes. Exact pattern and colouration varies depending on strain/breed.	Yellow with black stripes, sometimes with olive, brown, orange-brown, red, white, or as in Bombus pratorum, dark.	Dusty yellow to dark brown or black	Black and opaque bright yellow stripes	Black and ivory white markings	Black and dark body with yellow	Black and orange or yellow markings
Furry (short hair)	Furry (long hair)	Little or no hair	Some hair
1.3 cm	2.5 cm or more	1.9 to	1.3 cm	Up to 3.0 cm	Up to 3.5 cm	Up to 3.5 cm
Not generally visible while flying	Two thin long legs are visible hanging down during flight. There are no pollen baskets.	Legs not generally visible in flight. There are no pollen baskets.
Gentle	Gentle	Not aggressive	Defensive
Pollen and nectar from flowers	Other insects as larvae, sugary liquids such as nectar as adults	Other insects, overripe fruit, sugary drinks, human food and food waste, meat	Other insects as larvae, sugary liquids such as nectar as adults
Barbed. Kills bee; continues pumping.	Smooth; can repeat. Retracts.
2	2	1.5–3 depending on species	2 (Vespula pensylvanica)	2	2.x	4.0+
Not attracted to lights at night unless nest is disturbed, or light is placed near hive, or bee is sick.	Attracted to lights at night
Large colonies of flat, wax-based honeycomb hanging vertically.	Small cavities in the soil or sometime above ground in dark cavities. Commonly uses small rodent nests, may use bird cavity nests.	Small umbrella-shaped papery combs hanging horizontally in protected spaces such as attics, eaves or soil cavities.	Large paper nest, upside down pear shaped, hanging from branches and eaves; also barns and attics. Some yellowjacket species nest in the ground.	Very large paper nest in hollow trees, sheltered positions. Has a brown, protective layer when the nest is in an unsheltered position. Also found in barns, attics, hollow walls and abandoned bee hives.

Notes

References

"Bumble Bees".
Benton, Ted (2006). "Chapter 9: The British Species". ''Bumblebees''. London, UK: HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 338–342. {{ISBN. 0007174519
Unless otherwise noted, sting pains are from ''The sting of the Wild'' by Justin O. Schmidt. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2006, pp.226-229
"Vespa mandarinia Smith, 1852".
Bees aren't generally active at night, as their bodies [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbPagJCVz6M&t=6m29s aren't able to withstand colder temperatures] as easily as wasps' bodies are.
"Non-Honey Bee Stinging Insects in North Carolina". NC State University.
"Pest Control Advice - Wasps". Oxford City Council.

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