# Characteristics of common wasps and bees

While observers can easily confuse common wasps and bees at a distance or without close observation, there are many different characteristics of large bees and wasps that can be used to identify them.

## Characteristics

| | Bees (Family: Apidae) | Bees (Family: Apidae) | Wasps (Family: Vespidae) | Wasps (Family: Vespidae) | Wasps (Family: Vespidae) | Wasps (Family: Vespidae) | Wasps (Family: Vespidae) |
| Name | Western honey bee | Bumblebee | Paper wasp | Yellowjacket | Bald-faced hornet | European hornet | Asian hornet |
| Image | | | | | | | |
| Colors | Amber to brown translucent alternating with black stripes. Exact pattern and colouration varies depending on strain/breed. | Yellow with black stripes, sometimes with olive, brown, orange-brown, red, white, or as in Bombus pratorum, dark. | Dusty yellow to dark brown or black | Black and opaque bright yellow stripes | Black and ivory white markings | Black and dark body with yellow | Black and orange or yellow markings |
| Coat | Furry (short hair) | Furry (long hair) | Little or no hair | Little or no hair | Little or no hair | Some hair | Some hair |
| Size | 1.3 cm (0.51 in) | 2.5 cm (0.98 in) or more | 1.9 to 2.5 cm (0.75 to 0.98 in) | 1.3 cm (0.51 in) | Up to 3.0 cm (1.2 in) | Up to 3.5 cm (1.4 in) | Up to 3.5 cm (1.4 in) |
| Legs | Not generally visible while flying | Not generally visible while flying | Two thin long legs are visible hanging down during flight. There are no pollen baskets. | Legs not generally visible in flight. There are no pollen baskets. | Legs not generally visible in flight. There are no pollen baskets. | Legs not generally visible in flight. There are no pollen baskets. | Legs not generally visible in flight. There are no pollen baskets. |
| Behavior | Gentle | Gentle | Not aggressive | Defensive | Defensive | Defensive | Defensive |
| Food | Pollen and nectar from flowers | Pollen and nectar from flowers | Other insects as larvae, sugary liquids such as nectar as adults | Other insects, overripe fruit, sugary drinks, human food and food waste, meat | Other insects as larvae, sugary liquids such as nectar as adults | Other insects as larvae, sugary liquids such as nectar as adults | Other insects as larvae, sugary liquids such as nectar as adults |
| Sting | Barbed. Kills bee; continues pumping. | Smooth; can repeat. Retracts. | Smooth; can repeat. Retracts. | Smooth; can repeat. Retracts. | Smooth; can repeat. Retracts. | Smooth; can repeat. Retracts. | Smooth; can repeat. Retracts. |
| Sting Pain | 2 | 2 | 1.5–3 depending on species | 2 (Vespula pensylvanica) | 2 | 2.x | 4.0+ |
| Lights | Not attracted to lights at night unless nest is disturbed, or light is placed near hive, or bee is sick. | Not attracted to lights at night unless nest is disturbed, or light is placed near hive, or bee is sick. | Attracted to lights at night | Attracted to lights at night | Attracted to lights at night | Attracted to lights at night | Attracted to lights at night |
| Lives in | Large colonies of flat, wax-based honeycomb hanging vertically. | Small cavities in the soil or sometime above ground in dark cavities. Commonly uses small rodent nests, may use bird cavity nests. | Small umbrella-shaped papery combs hanging horizontally in protected spaces such as attics, eaves or soil cavities. | Large paper nest, upside down pear shaped, hanging from branches and eaves; also barns and attics. Some yellowjacket species nest in the ground. | Large paper nest, upside down pear shaped, hanging from branches and eaves; also barns and attics. Some yellowjacket species nest in the ground. | Very large paper nest in hollow trees, sheltered positions. Has a brown, protective layer when the nest is in an unsheltered position. Also found in barns, attics, hollow walls and abandoned bee hives. | Very large paper nest in hollow trees, sheltered positions. Has a brown, protective layer when the nest is in an unsheltered position. Also found in barns, attics, hollow walls and abandoned bee hives. |