Bees vs wasps vs hornets: how to tell the difference

Bees, wasps, and hornets may be different pests, but they are often confused because they can look and act alike. It’s important to know which one you’re dealing with, especially if you get stung. Different stings can cause different reactions—some mild, some serious enough to require a hospital visit. 

The main difference between wasps, bees, and hornets is their body shape and texture. Wasps and hornets have smooth bodies and narrow legs, while bees have hairy bodies and flat legs. Hornets are a type of wasp but are usually larger and more aggressive. It’s important to know how these stinging pests differ because people can react differently to different types of stings. When a person is stung or bitten, and there is a concern about the health risks, it's important to know the type of stinging pest involved in order for doctors to recommend the right kind of treatment.

During the warmer months, the chance of you or a family member running into some kind of stinging pest is pretty high. Although stinging pests like wasps, bees, and hornets can sometimes build nests inside a home, more than likely, you'll find yourself reeling from a sting while outside. Flying stinging pests are as common at picnics and outdoor events as flies and mosquitoes, but they carry a hidden threat for those who are allergic to insect stings.

Western Exterminator technicians are trained to know the difference between bees, hornets and wasps and offer the right stinging pest solution for you. Contact your local Western Exterminator office today if you suspect you have a stinging pest problem.

Appearance of bees vs. wasps vs. hornets

Knowing the differences in appearance between bees, wasps, and hornets can help you quickly identify which pest you're dealing with. Below is a simple comparison of their key characteristics:

Bees

Some things to know about a bee's appearance:

• Hairy bodies. Bees appear to have very hairy bodies, including their legs. In fact, it almost looks like bees have fur.
• Body shape. A bee's head and thorax seem to meld together into one large body part. They are also more round and bulbous in appearance.
• Legs. Bees have hairy, flat legs. All of this hairiness is due to the bee's need to carry pollen from one area to the next. The pollen sticks to the legs and body so it can be moved from one flower to the next. This transportation of pollen is why bees are so key to the environment.

Wasps

It's hard to immediately spot the difference between a wasp, hornet or bee, especially if you're stung and don't get a chance to see the culprit. However, if you do get a chance to see the insect or even capture it, you will know it's a wasp from these characteristics:

• Body shape: It is smooth rather than hairy. Wasps actually do have tiny hairs all over their body, but they are generally too small to see with the naked eye.
• Waist: The wasps have a wide head, a very narrow waist, and then a larger rear section. Bees tend to have roundish bodies with no segmentation.
• Legs: Wasps have skinny, cylindrical legs.

Hornets

Hornets can mainly be distinguished from other wasps by their size, markings and aggressive behavior:

• Size: Hornets are larger than most wasps and bees, usually around one to one and a half inches long.
• Body shape: Hornets have a smooth, robust body that looks bulkier than a wasp’s. They are typically more rounded than wasps.
• Color: Hornets are often black and yellow (or black and white, depending on the species), and their markings are a bit more pronounced than those of wasps.
• Behavior: Hornets are much more aggressive than bees or wasps, especially when defending their nest.

In summary, you can quickly identify these stinging insects by their appearance and behavior. Bees are fuzzy with flat legs, making them easy to spot as pollinators. Wasps have smooth bodies with a thin waist, giving them a sleek look. Hornets are the largest of the three, with smooth bodies and an aggressive nature, especially when defending their nest.

 Life cycle & behavior differences of bees, wasps, and hornets

Bees, wasps, and hornets share a similar life cycle, but their behavior, diet, and social structures vary greatly. 

Life cycle: from egg to adult

All three insects go through the same four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. But the time it takes to develop into an adult varies by species:

• Bees: Eggs hatch in three to four days, larvae develop into pupae in about 10 days, and adult bees emerge in 16–24 days, depending on the species.
   
• Wasps: Eggs hatch in five to eight days, with full development taking around three to four weeks before they become adults. Instead of building nests, some wasp species, called parasitic wasps, sting and paralyze other insects, then lay their eggs inside them. When the eggs hatch, the larvae slowly feed on the host insect until they grow into adults.
   
• Hornets: Similar to wasps, hornet eggs hatch in about six days, and the full transformation takes two to four weeks.

Diet: pollinators vs. predators

• Bees are important pollinators, collecting nectar and pollen from flowers to bring back to their hives. They pollinate plants, helping plants grow, breed, and produce food. Unlike wasps or hornets, bees do not hunt other insects; instead, they focus on gathering nectar, which they turn into honey, and pollen, which they use as a food source. Their fuzzy bodies are designed for picking up pollen as they move from flower to flower, which is why they are so important for the environment.
   
• Wasps are predators, hunting insects like caterpillars and spiders. They paralyze their prey and bring it back to their larvae, which feed on the insect’s body. Adult wasps, however, mostly consume nectar and fruit. If you are at a picnic or carnival or outdoors when you find yourself stung by an insect, it's probably going to be a wasp. This is because wasps are more aggressive and predatory, meaning they are more likely to be around human food sources. 
• Hornets: behave a bit like wasps but tend to hunt larger prey, including flies, bees, and even other wasps. Hornets are larger and more aggressive than regular wasps, and they can be more dangerous, especially if they feel their nest is threatened. If you’re stung by a hornet, it's likely to happen near their nest, as hornets are highly protective. These insects also feed on nectar and fruit, but they are much more focused on hunting than bees or wasps. Their size and strength make them efficient predators.

Colony structure: social vs. solitary

• Bees: live in highly organized colonies with a single queen, thousands of worker bees, and drones (males). Honeybee colonies can survive for years.
   
• Wasps: can be social or solitary. Social wasps, like yellow jackets, live in colonies that die off in winter, while solitary wasps, like mud daubers, build individual nests.
   

Hornets: are always social and live in colonies, similar to wasps. Their colonies usually only last one season, with new queens hibernating in winter to start fresh nests in spring.

Bee nest vs. wasp nest vs. hornet nest

Wasps and hornets build their nests differently from bees. Their nests are made from chewed wood pulp, which looks like gray paper. Wasps often build their nests underground, inside wall cavities, or hanging from trees and buildings. Hornets usually create large, round nests that hang from tree branches, rooftops, or other high places. 

Wasps and hornets are generally more aggressive than bees and likely to attack anything they think is a threat. If you find the wasp's hornet’s nest hanging from a tree branch or under the eaves of the house, stay away from it. These aggressive stinging insects will attack if humans go too close to the nest. They also tend to defend their nests over longer distances than bees.

Unlike bees, wasps and hornets only use their nests for one season. When winter comes, the colony dies, and the nest is abandoned.

Bees build hives, but they manufacture them out of a waxy substance in a hexagonal shape with the various cells stacked upon each other. Within these hives, bees produce honey. Depending on the type of bee, they will build their nests underground, in the cavities of trees, inside buildings, etc.

In fact, if you find a stinging pest inside your home, it may be a bee from a hive built inside the walls. There have even been cases of homeowners finding honey dripping from their wallpaper only to find a honey bee hive within the walls, where getting bee removal services is vital.

By looking at the nest’s material and location, you can tell which insect it belongs to. A wax honeycomb in a tree or wall crack is likely a bee hive. A papery, football-shaped nest hanging from a tree or roof is probably a hornet nest.

Bee stings vs. wasp stings vs. hornet stings

The way bees, wasps, and hornets sting is different, and it can affect how you react to the sting. Wasps and hornets will sting multiple times if they feel threatened. The other thing to know is wasps and hornets do not lose their stingers when they sting. If you do not find a stinger protruding from the sting site, then you've likely been stung by a wasp or hornet.

Hornets are more aggressive when defending their colony, and their sting can be more painful due to their size and venom.

Bees are generally very different in temperament than wasps. In fact, it takes quite a bit of effort on your part to get a bee to sting. Bees prefer to eat nectar from flowers and other vegetable matter. They are less likely to be attracted to human food around picnics or other gatherings. Bees prefer to spend their time with flowers than attacking humans. Their vegetarian diet does not require a predatory lifestyle. It would take handling bees or attacking their hive to actually cause bees to attack and sting.

Bees have barbed stingers, with an end that has a small part sticking up from the rest of the stinger. The shape causes the stinger to stay in the skin of whatever they have stung. Unfortunately for the bees, when they then take off after the sting, they are disemboweled and will eventually die.

All three stings can cause pain, swelling, and redness, and the reactions in humans are often similar. However, in rare cases, a sting from any of these insects can cause severe allergic reactions, such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, or swelling in the face or throat. If you experience these symptoms, it's important to seek medical help immediately, as it can be life-threatening.  If you find yourself near a bee, wasp, or hornet nest, it’s best to leave the area quickly and contact our wasp control professionals for safe removal.

Frequently asked questions