The main signs of how to distinguish a wasp from a bee

With the onset of heat, almost all insects are activated. Wasps and bees do not stand aside, recalling their existence in the natural environment, on the balconies of apartments, in city parks and squares, on personal plots. From the school curriculum, few remember the difference between a wasp and a bee. Interest sharply awakens at the sight of stinging insects and especially after their bites.

External differences

Despite the fact that wasps and bees belong to the same order of hymenoptera and, as a matter of fact, are in family ties, they have many differences. We will not take into account the exotic species of flyers and consider:

• common types of paper wasps;
• honey bees;
• hornets - typical representatives of public wasps;
• bumblebees - ambassadors from the family of real bees.

Color

The difference between a bee and a wasp can be revealed visually by the appearance. The color of the bee is in yellow muted tones with black stripes. The body is covered with hairs.

The wasp is distinguished by a smooth body without signs of hairline, saturated with yellow and contrasting black stripes. The bright "robe" of the insect is noticeable at a great distance. And the wasp does not need a thick pile, because collecting nectar does not belong to its main business.

Body structure

Wasp is not in vain famous for its wasp waist - the interception between the abdomen and chest. In the photo, the graceful bend is especially clearly visible. The body shape is elongated elongated. A closer look reveals powerful jaws and thin legs.
The hornet looks very similar to a wasp, but only with more developed jaws and a thickened waist.

On a note! The hornet is the largest insect among traditional wasps and bees, in size it exceeds them by two to three times. The dimensions of the flyer can reach 5-6 cm.

The bee has a more rounded body and the interception between its parts is barely distinguishable. Compared to the wasp, the proportions are harmonious. The abdomen differs in shape depending on what step the insect occupies in the bee hierarchy. In honey-working workers, it is egg-shaped, in the uterus elongated, and in drones it has a blunt end. Unlike wasps, bees have so-called baskets on thick legs - containers in which they place flower nectar.

Differences in lifestyle and behavior

The flight path and manner of controlling one's own body are no less noticeable differences between a bee and a wasp. The honey collector flies smoothly. The wasp develops a decent speed, because of which its movements sometimes become jerky and it is able to "freeze" in space for short periods of time.

The calmest "driving style" among bumblebees. Because of their size and mass, they fly slowly, without rushing. Watching a flying bumblebee, one gets the impression that the poor fellow with great effort keeps himself in the air.

Interesting! For a long time, naturalists generally considered the version that flying qualities of bumblebees manifest themselves contrary to all laws of aerodynamics.

It is common for all representatives to live in families:

• Domestic bees live in houses carefully prepared by beekeepers. Wild individuals create hives in hollows of trees, rocky gorges. Occasionally there are bees who prefer a solitary lifestyle.
• Wasps can also live in organized families with a strict lifestyle, where everyone performs his function, or be a hermit. Unlike bees, hornet's nests look like paper, the material for their manufacture is chewed grass and wood.
• Bumblebees live in few colonies, the number of which does not exceed 200 individuals. They build their nests in abandoned burrows of rodents, in hollows of trees. They prefer to go alone to get food, while wasps most often move in groups.
• Hornets, as befits a wasp, build paper nests. Only in the role of building materials are rotten stumps, branches, so their home is different in brown, not gray.

Power Features

A bee is a true vegetarian and collects only nectar, pollen of flowers. Its principles of nutrition are shared by a bumblebee - the same connoisseur of floral products.

But wasps and hornets are avid hunters and predators. The protein menu is necessary for the larvae, so working individuals attack small insects, sometimes even exceeding them in size. Often their prey becomes a bee, a fly. To immobilize the victim, wasps do not always use their main weapon - the sting.

They successfully cope with weak opponents through powerful jaws. Each species has its own strategy and attack tactics, but in most cases they drag their prey into the nest, riding it on horseback.

Wasps, stuck around a piece of meat, fish, a fallen animal - an everyday occurrence. With their powerful jaws, they bite off tiny pieces of meat and bring them to the larvae in a chewed state.

With great enthusiasm, wasps and hornets eat fermented or fresh fruits, sugar-containing foods, sugary drinks, and even beer.

What is the difference between insect bites

People quite often become victims of stinging insects. In this connection, the question arises, how does a bee sting differ from a wasp sting, and which of them dies after an attack. Both creatures have a sting in their arsenal. Only now they use it on a different principle.

The bee sting is uneven with protruding notches. Outwardly, it is very similar to a harpoon. When an insect attacks, it introduces a sting into the skin, toxic substances enter through the thin channel. The bee attempts to pull out its tool, but the uneven surface of the sting prevents it from doing so. As a result of efforts, it breaks away from the body, and with it the sac with poison, as well as the internal organs, most often the intestines. Such injuries cause the bee to die.

The wasp has a better weapon. The sting is almost smooth and extremely sharp. It is considered one of the sharpest tools in the world. During a bite, toxic components enter through it. Each species has a different composition.

The body shape allows the wasp to attack its prey at any angle. After the attack, the insect freely removes the gun from the skin of the victim and is removed back home or makes a second attack.

On a note! If you want to experience and find out what the stings of bees and wasps look like and how they differ, be sure to start vigorously waving your hands, making loud noises when approaching “minke whales”. So you significantly increase the chances of being bitten.

Pain after bites does not appear so much due to damage to the skin, but because of the components of the poison, which provoke burning, itching and possible allergic reactions. The greatest discomfort and suffering is caused by hornet bites, then bumblebees, wasps and bees follow the degree of painfulness.

Summary

Bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets have many differences, despite the fact that they are from the same squad. Having carefully studied the photograph of each, you can recognize them unmistakably in appearance. All these insects play a role in nature and benefit humans.Bees are suppliers of honey, and wasps exterminate and reduce the number of pests.