Now that the weather is warming up, insects in general are being seen more often. This includes the infamous wasp. And, with more and more flowers blooming, the honey bees. Unfortunately a lot of people get these two insects mixed up. Which is why pest controllers are getting calls to come out and exterminate insects that turn out to be bees. But, did you know that when it comes to bees compared to wasps, bees are really not that dangerous? In fact, they are not actually very dangerous at all.

Know which type of insect you have on your property

Bees will usually only sting people if strongly provoked and bees compared to wasps are not aggressive creatures. What’s more, we need bees to survive. They pollinate about two thirds of the food we eat and we cannot live without them.

In fact, did you know that bees are actually considered an endangered species? All around the world their numbers are declining. This is mostly because of environmental degradation and also modern farming practices such as the wide spread use of crop pesticides. This is why bees compared to wasps are precious, and should not be interfered with.

On the other hand, wasps can be dangerous. The reason why is because wasps are territorial and can also be extremely aggressive. This means that if you enter into an area with a nest, they may attack and sting you. This will obviously be a problem if you have a nest in your garden. And a serious concern if they build a nest or hibernate inside your house. And can be a serious issue if wasps build a nest or hibernate inside your house. Many people are also allergic to wasp stings, and this can make the problem even more serious.

Main differences of honey bees compared to wasps

At first glance, these two insects may seem to look almost identical. They are roughly the same size, and both have black and yellow banding. But, if you look into this a bit closer, you will find they are actually quite different.

You can read some interesting wasp facts on our blog, which might help you with knowing how to deal with them. But, in terms of identifying which insect you have, the differences between them include:

• Bees have a rounder, more plump body, while wasps have a slender body which is pinched in narrowly at the waist.
• Bees are hairy or furry, while wasps have almost  no hair
• Wasps legs hang down while flying, while bees do not.
• Honey bees‘ lighter stripes are a golden colour, while wasps are a bright lemony yellow.
• Wasps can sting you multiple times, while bees die after stinging just once.

Bottom line: If you have bees, they should be left alone if possible. Or, If you have a nest on your property, or really feel that the bees are a nuisance, a qualified bee keeper can be called in. These professionals know how to carefully relocate bees and keep the colony in tact. With wasps, you can call a pest control company like Diamond Pest Control that offers wasp control services. We will be able to help you with this problem in a safe way.