Differences between wasp, bee and bumblebee

A wasp and a bee differ in appearance, behavior, lifestyle. But often they are confused among themselves, not knowing what to expect. This category also includes bumblebee. He tries to stay away from man, but occasionally meets, even builds his nests in a summer cottage, garden plot. The difference between a wasp and a bee, as well as a hornet, is visible to the naked eye, but only an informed person can distinguish them.

External differences

The difference in size, body structure is significant.

Wasps

Visual appearance wasp elongated, thin. Abdomen, chest is connected by a jumper, thanks to which the concept of “wasp waist” arose among the people. The body is smooth, slightly lowered in the abdomen, head. Head, front of the chest black. The abdomen is bright, contrasting color - wide black and yellow stripes. The wings are thin, transparent, with a small antennae on the head.

On a note!

You can distinguish a wasp from a bee by its powerful jaws, which are clearly visible when you carefully examine the head. The size of the body of an ordinary representative does not exceed 1.5 cm. Uterus larger.

How is a wasp different from a bee yet - in size, structure sting. The wasps have an oblong weapon, without nicks. Reminds a needle. Thanks to this feature, it easily penetrates under the skin and is easily removed. In one attack, the insect stings up to 5 times. Thanks to this feature, you can identify the attacker, recognize the enemy. A wasp can not only sting, but also bite. If the insect's chitin cover is too dense, it is pierced by powerful jaws.

The bees

Outwardly look different, similarities in coloring, coloring. They have a rounded shape. A noticeable difference between a wasp and a bee in thin elongated limbs. They have massive legs of black color, covered with numerous small hairs. Body size about 1 cm. The jaws are small, the antennae and large eyes are clearly visible on the head.

On a note!

Differences between wasps and bees in body proportions. In honey plants, they are more uniform, there is no clear separation of the chest and abdomen.

The head is small yellow-black. Shaggy abdomen - covered with relatively long dense hairs. The abdomen is striped. Unlike the wasp representatives, the stripes are narrow, black and bright orange alternate. On top are covered with yellow villi. A photo of the differences between a bee and a wasp can be seen below.

You can compare a bee and a wasp by a sting, which differs significantly. In bees, defense weapons consist of notches. Reminds a saw. It sticks into the skin, tightly fixed. Notches prevent the bee from reaching the sting back, with a sharp jerk a part of the abdomen comes off, soon the bee dies. A photo of a bee and a wasp in the process of being bitten further.

Bumblebee

Furry creature. The appearance of this insect does not even cause concern. This is a slow, calm creature. The body is much larger, massive, stocky bees, wasps. Outwardly resembles a shaggy lump. Stripes are yellow-black, wide. The head is lowered to the bottom. Some species of bumblebees are completely black or have bright reddish stripes.

A close-up photo of a wasp and a bee can be seen below.

Flight differences

If compare wasp, bee, bumblebee during the flight, significant differences can also be found.

Wasps make sharp movements, easily freeze in the air. In one instant they can move from one place to another. In the process of prolonged observation, you can notice constant jerky movements, frequent change of trajectory.

Bees fly more calmly, measuredly. They do not make sudden movements, try to land quickly. They do not create an annoying buzz, it is more difficult to notice them by the sound than wasps.

On a note!

Flight of the Bumblebee For a long time, experts called the exception to the rules of aerodynamics. The shaggy individual flies slowly, slowly, creating a rather noticeable hum.

Behavior features

Bumblebee and wasp have much less similarity than bee and bumblebee. The behavior of insects is explained by their instinctive skills, a type of food. Bees, bumblebees collect plant nectar, thereby ensuring full pollination of crops. In the structure of honey plants there is a special bag in which they collect nectar, and then it is converted into bee or bumblebee honey. Bumblebees are unique in that they wake up much earlier than other pollinators. In a special way they warm their body, go flying.

Representatives of the aspen family eat fruit juices, nectar, honey. But for the development of larvae, protein food is required. For this reason, predators attack other insects, their larvae. Chew their insides, form small balls, give the larvae. In return, saliva is released, which their cubs secrete. There is a mutual exchange of food.

Interesting!

The wasp swarm periodically attacks bee colonies, ruining the hive in a few hours. They eat honey. There is also a claim that wasps eat bees. They attack weakened, sick insects, but being inside the hive, paralyze everyone indiscriminately. They drag the captives into their nest, feed them to the larvae.

Since wasps are omnivores, they can often be found in the garden, courtyard, suburban area, even in an apartment, house. Attracts them sweet, sour, rotten meat, fish. Wasps fly in small flocks, keep at a certain distance. Bees are crowded, and bumblebees prefer to fly one at a time.

Differences in the structure of the nest

For domestic bees, beekeepers build special houses. Inside, insects form a wax honeycomb, the material for which they produce themselves. One family has several thousand individuals that work hard, get nectar, and feed larvae. In the wild, bees occupy hollows in trees, old stumps.

Public wasps live in neststhat form of parchment. Get it in a special way. Spit saliva on the wood, after a few minutes, the upper layer is scraped with jaws. Chew several times, get a sticky, viscous substance. From it form a honeycomb. Outwardly, the hornet's nest resembles a sphere the size of an apple, gray, brown. The hives are attached to a wooden base, formed on a tree, in the ground, under the roof of a house, a barn, in the walls, under the floor, on the balconyIt’s quite natural that people want to get rid of them.

Bite difference

Wasps are aggressive in nature, rush to attack at the slightest error. They bite several times, then quietly disappear from sight. Bites painful, rhinestones cause swelling, swelling, redness. In individuals with individual intolerance to wasp venom developing strong allergic reaction with a deterioration in overall health, swelling of the larynx.

Bees sting in case of urgent need. They value their sting, this is easily explained. After using the weapon, the insect dies, since it flies away without a sting and part of the abdomen. This is a distinctive feature of a wasp sting, a bee. The sting continues to throb for a while, inject poison. The pain is somewhat weaker than from wasp attacks. An allergic reaction also develops. Bee sting differs insignificantly from a bite of a wasp, the treatment principles are identical.

Bumblebees bite very painfully, but rarely. To make them angry, you need to try hard. These calm creatures prefer to hide rather than aggressively attack.

Varieties of bees and wasps

According to recent estimates, about 20 thousand species of bees have been found in the world. Of particular importance to humans are honey plants. Outwardly, they are not particularly different, they lead a similar lifestyle. Bumblebee is also a representative of a large bee family.

Species of bees and wasps within the family - working individuals, drones, uterus or queen. Working individuals - females incapable of fertilization, are called males by drones, the queen's meaning is to reproduce offspring, lay the basis of the nest. However, among wasp species, there are solitary species that do not build nests and do not live in swarms. It can be conditionally divided into 2 types - public or paper, single. The largest and most aggressive representative is hornet.

Summarizing

When compared in size, who is larger than a wasp or a bee, the advantage is on the side of the wasp. A bite of a wasp or a bee is more dangerous - it also wins in the ranking of a wasp, but only by the strength of painful sensations. Bee venom is more dangerous if the sting is not removed in a timely manner. Who is more aggressive - the hornet family wins again. Representatives are characterized by excessive aggressiveness, nervousness, rush to attack with a slight wave of his hand in his direction.