Honey Bee vs. Wasp - What’s the Difference?

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How can you distinguish between these insects? This article will explain it to you!

Honey Bee - Photo: DirkDaniel (links)/stock.adobe.com, Geza Farks (rechts)/Shutterstock

In spring and summer, lots of us are afraid of bees and wasps. And for good reason: A bee sting hurts a lot more than a mosquito bite. Also, many people are allergic to the venom of these insects, which can be fatal. But these little things fly so quickly around our drinks and cakes that it’s not always easy to tell them apart.

In this article, we’re concentrating on the kinds that are most commonly found where we are. So those that we might find in our homes, backyards, balconies, gardens, cafés, restaurants and beer gardens. These are:

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Honey Bee: Western honey bee
Wasp: German wasp, common wasp
Bumblebee: Garden bumblebee, early bumblebee
Hornet: Vespa crabro

Honey Bee - Photo: szefei/Shutterstock

How Are Bees and Wasps Different?

Here are the main differences between bees and wasps:

Anatomy and Appearance

Size
Weight
Body weight
Hair
Color
Sting

Behavior

Nature
Stinging Behavior

Diet

Collecting pollen
Hunting

Over the following pages, you’ll find large images and some easy rules of thumb to work out which is which. Finally, there’ll be a clear summary. Of course, we’ve not just taken a closer look at honey bees and wasps. You’ll also learn to tell the difference between bumblebees and hornets.