Summer brings hot weather, vacations, picnics and lots of menacing yellow and black stinging things. At least that’s how some people broadly lump together bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. There are a number of differences between these common backyard insects, not to mention important benefits. Here’s a brief primer to help you tell the difference, and perhaps calm your fears:
Honeybees and Bumblebees:
Appearance: generally fuzzy bodies and legs; honeybees have a more distinct “waist,” while bumblebees are rounder
Benefits: Both are master pollinators. We wouldn’t have many crops to eat without them. Our only source of honey comes from the honeybee.
Stinging Behavior: Usually not aggressive, they sting only when severely provoked. Honeybees die after stinging; bumblebees can sting more than once.
Hive or nest: Bumblebees nest in the ground. Honeybees nest in cavities of trees, but most commonly live in human-made beehives.
Paper wasps and hornets:
Appearance: smooth, slender bodies with a distinct “waist.”
Benefits: Both prey on live insects and eat many garden pests.
Stinging behavior: Can be aggressive, but they don’t scavenge human food, so they’re less likely to be bothersome at a picnic. They will sting more than once if provoked.
Hive or nest: Both build papery nests suspended under eaves and other protected above-ground sites; hornets more commonly build in trees or shrubs. It’s best to leave nests alone unless they are in a high-traffic area like doorways or play areas.
Yellow Jackets:
Appearance: Also smooth and slender; they can be difficult to distinguish from wasps or hornets.
Benefits: Mostly carnivorous; they feed on caterpillars and other garden pests.
Stinging behavior: More aggressivethan wasps and hornets, they will defend their nests if disturbed by vibration or noise. Yellow jackets will sting more than once. Because their diet changes in late summer to include sugars and meat, they will scavenge human food, thus becoming very bothersome at picnics and outdoor gatherings.
Hive or nest: Large underground nests, so watch for yellow jackets flying in and out of a hole in the ground.
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Dig Deeper:
We gratefully acknowledge Gardeners.com for their helpful information on this timely topic. Click on their link to learn more.
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Attracting pollinators like honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds is great for your landscape and the environment. We can guide you in plant selection and landscape design to attract the friendly ones, and keep the pesky ones minimized. Ask us how: 707-789-9786
