Wasps and bees are both members of the Hymenoptera order of insects, which also includes ants. Although they belong to the same order, they are quite different in their purpose. Both have the ability to sting, but wasps are generally the more aggressive species and can sting multiple times, whereas honey bees usually die after stinging a person.
Wasps are most active in the summer months in the UK. This is partly due to the weather, and only the Queen survives to hibernate during the winter months. They have a distinctive yellow and black body and are often confused with hornets, although hornets are less common in this country. Wasps are also confused with bees, especially honey bees, which have a similar colouring and body shape. The best way to tell them apart is by the body surface: wasps usually have a smooth body, whilst bees are often plumper and hairy, with flatter back legs.
Wasps and the Food Chain
Wasps, although annoying, do play a vital part in the food chain. They prey on a large number of insect pests that feed on our crops and gardens. They will also prey on flies and maggots. So although they can be irritating, they do serve an important role for humans.
Wasps are generally not aggressive unless they feel threatened or feel their nest is under threat. They have the ability to sting multiple times. This can be an extremely painful and unpleasant experience and, in the worst cases, can lead to death if someone is allergic to their venom. Often wasps build their nest close to human homes. They can pose a threat to children who may not be aware of the dangers of wasps. If you have a nest in or around your home, it is important that you do not try to remove it yourself and instead seek professional help.
Honey bees have a barbed stinger, in contrast to wasps, which have a straight pointed stinger. If the barbed bee stinger penetrates human skin, the bee can become trapped and die. It is a misconception that a bee can never sting more than once; if the barb does not become hooked, it may be able to sting again.
Colony Size
There are around 20,000 different species of bees in the world. Bees can live in much larger colonies than wasps, containing the queen bee, worker bees and drones. The main types of bees include bumble bees, mason bees and honey bees. The honey bee is the only social insect whose colony can survive for many years.
Bees can be dangerous if they feel threatened. However, they tend not to sting as often as wasps. Like a wasp sting, a bee sting can be very painful and, in the worst cases, cause death in a small percentage of people who are allergic to their venom.
Another difference between bees and wasps is that queen wasps build the initial nest for their colonies, whereas worker bees build and maintain their colony's nest. Unlike wasps, which largely die off during winter, honey bees do not hibernate in the same way; instead, they live on food reserves and heat accumulated by the colony. Wasps do not create honey, but honey bees can produce and store large amounts of honey in their hives.
