How are wasps, bees, hornets and other striped flies different?

What stings a wasp, a bee and a hornet

The wasp is a very aggressive insect; when attacking, it uses its sting and jaws.
Only females have a sting, this is a modified ovipositor, and all of them have biting jaws. She bites more often, but she can use her sting up to five times in a row. The number of injections and poison depends on the age of the insect; the older, the stronger. The bee is not so aggressive by nature and attacks only if its life is threatened. She pierces the victim's skin with a modified ovipositor. The sting, having notches, catches on the puncture and breaks off along with a piece of the bee's belly. After this, the bee dies.

The hornet is as aggressive as a wasp and can attack a person who disturbs its habitat. The hornet both bites and stings. The sting is sharp and strong and can sting several times. Hornet venom is considered less toxic than bee venom. Based on the size of the insect and the amount of poison that enters the victim’s body through the sting, it poses a danger to human life.

Important! If a person’s body is weakened or susceptible to allergies, without assistance, anaphylactic shock and a tragic outcome may occur. Knowing the difference between stinging insects, you can avoid the risks of encountering them

These insects not only sting, but also bring great benefits, having learned about which, you should treat them kindly

Knowing the difference between stinging insects, you can avoid the risks of encountering them. These insects not only sting, but also bring great benefits, and when you learn about them, you should treat them kindly.

The main advantage of a bee is its usefulness on the farm. These are the main producers of honey, wax, propolis, beebread, and pollinators of flowering plants. Wasps and bumblebees are also beneficial: bumblebees are used to pollinate greenhouse plants, wasps destroy many aphids and caterpillars during the season. Useless and a hornet's nest. Pressed into a jar and filled with alcohol for 10 days, the wasp nest is used in the form of a rubbing to treat inflammatory processes in the joints and colds, and the dry ground nest is used to sprinkle on ulcers, burns, as a rinse for periodontal disease, and as a powder for sweaty feet.

Not all insects lead a solitary lifestyle. Some of them live in large communities - families. These insects include bees, wasps, bumblebees and ants.

The first three belong to the order Hymenoptera (ants usually do not fly). Accordingly, they have certain similarities, but there are also plenty of differences. How many of you think about the difference between a bee and a wasp? After all, outwardly they are almost identical.

In fact, it is not difficult to distinguish a bee from a wasp or bumblebee by external signs. But this is provided that the insect sits motionless and allows you to examine itself. And this doesn't happen often.

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Knowing the difference between these types of insects is useful in order to properly provide first aid in case of a bite. For example, if after an attack the sting remains in the skin, then it is a bee. And if there is nothing in the wound, but the bite site is very painful and swollen, then most likely it is a wasp. And you have to try hard to get stung by a bumblebee. They have no time for you at all, they have their own lives. But after the attack they do not leave a sting in the wound.

What is the difference between a bumblebee and a bee?

Regardless of the similarity of a bee and a bumblebee in the structure of their wings, there are many factors that distinguish them. The bumblebee and the bee are close relatives. Their habitat is very extensive. There are about 300 species of bumblebees living throughout the continents. A distinctive feature of this species is the shiny covering of the female's hind legs from the fold to the edge, covered with long hairs that form a basket for collecting pollen.

About 300 species of bumblebees from about 50 subgenera are known in the world. The bee family has more than 20 thousand species, many of which have not been studied. They are the main pollinators and pollen collectors, honey producers. There are three pairs of legs on the abdomen, with villi on the inside. On the hind legs, villi form baskets for collecting pollen. The abdomen consists of dense segments, bent to the bottom.

There are about 21 thousand species and 520 genera of bees

The difference between a bee and a bumblebee can be determined visually:

• A bumblebee is twice as large as a bee, its body is round.
• The coloring of a bumblebee is brighter than that of a bee.
• Bees are used on farms to collect pollen and pollinate plants in gardens and fields in open areas, bumblebees are used to pollinate plants in greenhouses.
• Sting Use - A bumblebee uses its sting many times. The bee only dies once.

We suggest you read: Bee or wasp sting - swelling, swelling and allergies after a bee sting

The bumblebee and the wasp have a significant difference in color; in the wasp it is provocative, bright yellow. The bumblebee is large, the body is round, fluffy, darker in color than the wasp. Bees and bumblebees feed on pollen and nectar, sucking it with their proboscis. Wasps are omnivorous insects - they consume pollen, nectar, fruit juice, tree sap, small insects, and attack bee hives using sharp jaws, which are used to bite.

How to distinguish a hornet from a queen wasp

The main visual difference is in size.

For comparison: 3 cm – uterus, 2 cm – normal

Insects of the aspen family have a thin waist and a long abdomen. The hornet has a waist that is not as thin as that of a wasp, the size of the head and thoracic region and abdomen is much larger than that of a wasp and even the wasp queen, which is the largest in a wasp swarm. The color stripes of the wasp are bright yellow, alternating, with clearly defined edges along the connecting line.

Important! The hornet has an alternating orange tone at the beginning of the abdomen and the color transition along the lines is not so clear

What to do if there are no signs of anaphylactic shock

Exhale. Most likely, the bite will be limited to standard symptoms: sharp burning pain at the sting site, swelling of the area around the bite and increased skin temperature.

To reduce discomfort, do this.

Wash the bite area with soap and water. Carefully (this is important!) remove the sting, if there is one. For example, wrap a piece of gauze around your finger and, using stroking, pushing movements, force the sting to come out from under the skin. Apply something cold to the bite site: an ice pack wrapped in a thin cloth, a metal spoon, a cloth soaked in ice water

Leave for 15–20 minutes. This will reduce swelling. To get rid of itching, take an antihistamine or apply a paste of baking soda and water in a 2:1 ratio to the bite site. Calamine lotion will also be effective. To relieve pain, take a pain reliever containing paracetamol or ibuprofen.

• It's rough to pull out the sting. The bee leaves it in the skin along with the poison glands. You can crush them and make the bite worse. For the same reason, tweezers should not be used.
• Comb the bite site. This will only increase swelling and itching, and the wound may become infected.

Difference between bee and bumblebee

The bee and the bumblebee are united by their belonging to the Hymenoptera. But while they have biological similarities, insects are also different from each other in many ways. So, what is the difference between a bee and a bumblebee?

Bee

Related to wasps and ants, bees are flying insects found on every continent except Antarctica. Their diet is nectar and pollen - sources of energy and nutrients. The proboscis helps insects obtain nectar. They also have antennae divided into segments. Of the two pairs of wings present, the rear ones are smaller. Bees are essential plant pollinators.

Bumblebee

The bumblebee is not only close to honey bees, but is itself classified as a member of the family of true bees. It has a high tolerance to cold due to its ability to warm up by frequently contracting its muscles. The insect can fly early in the morning, without waiting for the air to warm up.

Appearance

The bumblebee is noticeably larger than the honey bee. Its size is largely due to the thick long hairs that cover the insect’s body and form a shaggy appearance. External differences are also expressed in the colors of both representatives - in the bee it is less intense.

Housing

Bees, whose families are much larger than bumblebees, most often prefer to settle in tree hollows or live in hives (domestic representatives). At the same time, they work on building honeycombs of the correct shape.

Bumblebees often settle in the ground and litter. They can make their shelter in an abandoned rodent burrow or a bird's nest in the bushes. The cells in bumblebee shelters are not characterized by orderliness and symmetry, unlike bee honeycombs.

Composition and quality of honey

Both types of insects produce honey. However, the bee product is thicker and stores well. At the same time, thin bumblebee honey, more saturated with sucrose, proteins and minerals, begins to ferment already at a temperature just above zero degrees. This is one of the reasons why bumblebee honey is practically not used as a commodity.

Winter period

Continuing the conversation about the difference between a bee and a bumblebee, it should be noted that by winter the majority of bumblebees die. Only fertilized females remain, who will have to spend the winter period in torpor.

As for bees, their vital activity does not stop with the onset of frost, although during this period there is a slowdown in some processes occurring in the body of insects. In the winter, tireless workers seal up the cracks in their homes to protect themselves from cold and precipitation.

What is the difference between a wasp and a bee?

Questions on the topic:

Honey production

Bee and bumblebee honey differ in the amount of minerals and proteins in their composition, and its consistency also differs. Bumblebee honey is thinner, but several times richer in composition. It lasts longer than bee honey. It is kept in the refrigerator so that it does not ferment.

Bees and bumblebees pollinate many plants over the summer; they are the real workhorses of the insect world.

Wasps do not collect nectar or pollen and do not produce honey. They sit on a flower only in search of food for the larvae, looking for aphids or other small insects. The destruction of small insect pests is considered their work merit. Bees feed their offspring only with nectar.

When going on holiday outside the city in the summer, there is a high probability of encountering stinging insects. “Minke whales” are especially annoying when there are sweet dishes on the table. And when trying to drive away the “uninvited guest,” the insect can take revenge on the offender by inflicting a painful bite. Sometimes such attacks can be very dangerous

It all depends on whose attention the sweet treat caught. Thus, honey producers are relatively friendly and attack humans only when threatened.

Hornets and wasps are more aggressive in nature, so you should not neglect caution when meeting them. What is the difference between a wasp, a bee, a bumblebee, and a hornet, this article will help you understand

Differences in insect bites

It is not uncommon for a person to become a victim of a stinging insect. Because of this, many people wonder what the difference is in the bite of different species of Hymenoptera. The two creatures are characterized by the presence of a sting, but its use is carried out according to different principles.

The bee is distinguished by the presence of an uneven stinger, which has protruding serrations. In appearance they look like a harpoon. When attacked by insects, a sting is inserted into the skin, and a toxic substance enters the blood through a thin channel.

She tries to pull the sting out of the skin, but due to the uneven surface, this possibility is excluded. As a result of such efforts, it is torn off from the body along with the sac of poison; in addition, internal organs are torn off (in most cases this is the intestines). Such trauma leads to her death.

The wasp has a more advanced weapon - the sting is almost smooth and extremely sharp. Note that it is considered one of the sharpest instruments in the whole world. When a bite occurs, toxic components are also released, and each type is characterized by differences in composition.

Due to the peculiarities of the body shape, it is possible to attack the victim at any angle of inclination. After attacks, insects can easily remove weapons from the victim’s skin, after which they fly away or attack the person again.

A painful sensation appears after a bite not only due to damage to the skin, but due to the influence of the components of the poison, which provoke burning and itching. There is also a risk of an allergic reaction. The greatest discomfort and negative consequences are caused by hornet stings, followed by the bumblebee, wasp, and bee when comparing the degree of pain.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JTVkZTuQXvQ

Compared to bees and bumblebees, wasps are the most nervous and aggressive. If you try to brush off the insect or simply don’t like the scent of the body, the wasp will use its sting

If we take into account all types of Hymenoptera, then the high frequency and pain sensations are characteristic of wasps. They can also bite painfully with their powerful jaws.

Since the wasp has a smooth sting, if it is released into the skin, it will not remain inside the wound, which makes it possible to use it an unlimited number of times - it can immediately attack again without any harm to its body. The venom leads to severe pain, burning, and swelling, especially in the case of bites from large individuals.

If the insect disappears from view after the attack, you can figure out who it was by considering the presence or absence of a sting in the affected area.

Bees value their own weapons, so they sting only when absolutely necessary. They can sting only once, after which they cripple their own body and die. The sting is serrated and will remain in the wound along with the back of the insect. But it is worth noting that the pain will not be so intense.

During the attack, the wasp and the bee feed to their relatives, who after some time will help him by attacking the offender. A bumblebee can do the same, but since they most often fly alone, a conflict with them can only end in a bite by one representative of the colony.

The bumblebee stings more strongly than the bee and paper wasp, but much weaker when compared to the hornet. They are characterized by a smooth sting, so it does not remain in the wound. To provoke bumblebees to display aggression, you need to try, since these representatives are much calmer than their relatives.

To whom will the hornet yield in battle?

By analogy with previous connections between hornets, we can also identify those who are more likely to be the aggressor in relation to this insect.

The relationship between winged predators and spiders stands apart from all others.

Spider vs hornet

Hornet vs Tarantula Spider has an average chance of winning. These rivals have approximately the same body size, but the spider’s body, among other things, is equipped with strong venom and very powerful chelicerae. Therefore, in this skirmish the one who bites first will win.

The hornets' closest relatives - large road wasps and wandering ants - can also be formidable rivals.

One of the most original biological enemies of hornets is a unique fungus that develops in the insect’s brain.

The spores of this fungus enter the hornet's body through the mouth or respiratory tract and germinate in its head. During its development, the mycelium secretes special substances that cause the insect to feel constant thirst.

Willy-nilly, driven by instinct, the hornet looks for a suitable place to drink, and here the developing killer mushroom causes paralysis in the insect. The victim freezes in a completely unexpected position - for example, hanging on a blade of grass.

At the last stage of its life cycle, the parasite releases a fruiting body, thereby spreading new spores in a humid environment favorable for this process. Thus, a predatory insect, by its death, gives life to another, albeit such an ambiguous, living organism. Entomologists often find wasps and hornets with dried fungal bodies protruding from their heads.

Hornets also have enemies among vertebrates.

Some other insectivorous birds can also feed on hornets in a similar way. But among mammals, the only one that is definitely dangerous for this insect is a person who has learned to destroy not only individual wasps, but also their nests without much difficulty.

However, most often hornets die not from the “hands” of opponents worthy of strength, but from small parasites - mites, nematodes and riders, which cannot be destroyed.

So it is with the hornet: there are objects that it eats, acting as a formidable killer, and there are also those that destroy it, not paying any attention to the full power of this insect’s biological weapons.

What is the difference between a bumblebee, a hornet, a wasp, a bee and their bites

It is more correct to say that insects sting and do not bite humans. Only female wasps, hornets, bumblebees or bees attack. Modified ovipositor - only females have a sting. It is located at the back of the underside of the abdomen. Piercing the body of the victim, the insect simultaneously injects poison through a cavity in the sting.

Wasp

At the end of summer, wasps swarm around fruit trees. The insect resembles a striped fly: a shiny black and yellow body 15 to 18 mm long, a shaggy small head with powerful jaws and two pairs of brownish wings. Between the abdomen and the sternum there is a thin joint, which is popularly called the “wasp waist”.

When a threat arises, the insect plunges a sharp, smooth sting into the human body, but does not leave it there. Having stung 1–5 times, the wasp flies away. Unlike other insects, sometimes a wasp can bite with its jaws. Such a bite does not cause serious consequences, since it occurs without the introduction of poison. Insects live alone and in colonies in paper nests consisting of egg cells.

The size of a wasp nest shows how many workers there are in the colony

Hornet

Some insects fly through the air like fighter jets. We are talking about hornets, which differ in appearance from wasps with a large head and rounded abdomen. At rest, the insect's wings fold along its back. The hornet stings like a wasp - without releasing its sting. Hornets build brown nests, while wasps build gray nests. Insects attack the one who tries to destroy the nest.

The top of the hornet's head is larger than that of a wasp and is brownish rather than black in color.

Bee

Disturbed bees attack humans everywhere except Antarctica. The insect's body is dark with ocher stripes, hairy and more rounded than that of a wasp. The proboscis-shaped mouth is used to suck nectar from flowers. The difference between a bee is that its sting is not removed after a sting, but remains in the wound along with part of the abdomen, which pulsates, continuing to inject poison

Due to damage to a vital organ, the insect dies within 3 minutes

Villi on the body of a bee help the adhesion and transfer of plant pollen

Bumblebee

The largest of the stinging striped insects are bumblebees. Their bodies are larger, rounder and fluffier than those of bees and wasps. The stripes on the black belly are orange or yellow. The difference from other insects is the pollen baskets on the hind legs, surrounded by hard, straight hairs. The mechanism of a bumblebee bite is similar to that of a wasp and a hornet: the sting is smooth and does not remain in the wound.

The genus Bumblebees belongs to the family of true bees.

How to understand who bit

When examining the bite site, they find out whether the wound is clean

If a black sting with jagged edges, like a saw, is found in the wound, it means that the person has been punished by the bee for his carelessness. But other insects also leave sting fragments if you swat them at a crime scene.

In the absence of a stinging weapon, it is impossible to understand who bit, since the reaction of each person’s body is individual.

The biting insect is indirectly determined by the degree of pain of the bite. But anyone who has suffered at least once from stinging insects can make comparisons. The most painful sting is from the hornet, followed by the wasp, bumblebee and bee.

A hornet's sting is less toxic than a bee's, but it can sting several times.

If a person has not encountered these insects before, it is worth monitoring the speed and severity of the allergic reaction. The most powerful poison is the wasp, which quickly enters the bloodstream and causes illness. At the sting site for 3–15 minutes. edema develops.

A bee sting is characterized only by local manifestations. The swelling from the bite is smaller and grows more slowly. True, in the event that a person does not suffer from individual intolerance.

Hornet and wasp - differences

How is a hornet different from a wasp? The hornet is the largest representative of the wasp family. Its body length is more than five centimeters. The differences between a hornet and a wasp include not only size, but also body structure. The head is large, wide at the back of the eyes, the chest area is large, wide, dark in color. The belly has the same structure as that of a wasp, but is much larger.

The largest representatives of the hornet genus (Vespa mandarinia) measure up to 55 mm in length

Japanese hornet

The difference between a hornet and a wasp is the use of material to build a nest:

• The wasp uses thin tree fibers for construction, moistens them with secretions that are part of saliva, chews them to the desired state with saliva, and uses them in the construction of honeycombs. In appearance, the nest resembles a round roll of paper with numerous parallel layers, the honeycombs of which are located on the lower side of the layer.
• The Hornet uses the same method of construction, but uses rotted tree fibers and stumps for its material. When used, this material gives the nest a dark, brown tone.

The hornet spreads throughout the entire country, except for the far north, and is considered an endangered species in many areas. The wasp also lives throughout the territory except the northern regions, but is considered a useless, stinging insect.

Important! The hornet's sting is very painful, releasing a highly concentrated paralytic venom. In people with allergic diseases, the poison causes anaphylactic shock; without emergency help, the person may die.

Wasps are distant relatives of bees and ants. They do not care for the offspring; once they lay an egg in a cell, they seal it and throw it away.

Wasp with prey

Nests are built in any suitable places:

• between branches;
• in burrows underground;
• in buildings, in the form of a round roll of paper.

The hornet's sting reaches up to 5 mm in length. It attacks a person only in case of danger to his life, using a bite with his jaws, after which he can sting.

Important! By the nature of its aggressiveness, the wasp bites and stings simultaneously several times in a row.

The diet of both wasps and hornets includes:

• nectar;
• fruit juice, pollen;
• tree sap;
• insects - caterpillars and spiders.

Habitat

Wild bees build houses from wax, choosing hollow trees for this. Domestic bees live in apiaries in specially built houses called hives. Bees have large hives because colonies consist of workers, a drone and a queen bee.

Bumblebees inhabit:

• hollow;
• birdhouses;
• They build bombidarium houses in the ground, using honeycombs from hatched larvae as building material.

Both species are found in fields, city parks or gardens.

Wasps and hornets prefer the crown of trees, cracks in rocks, eaves of buildings, attics of bathhouses or barns. Pieces of wood bitten off and smeared with saliva are used as building material.

Wasp habitat

Bees

Bees are insects that have been domesticated by humans. Individuals are colored yellow-black with stripes. The insect consists of two parts - the abdomen and thorax, which are of the same size.

The body is covered with villi. There are transparent wings on the back. They live in specially built hive houses. In the wild, they inhabit tree hollows. Bees live in huge swarms, building honeycombs. They fly through flower meadows and collect pollen and nectar, feed on them and produce honey from them, which is very useful for our body. Individuals are very hardworking. Thanks to them, the flowers of fruit plants are pollinated, thereby helping to increase productivity.

There is a sting in the abdomen area, which is located next to the poisonous glands. With its help, they protect themselves from ill-wishers. After biting a person, she cannot stick the sting out of the skin, since it has serrations and therefore dies. The body of the bitten person becomes poisoned from the released poison, in some cases causing a complex stage of allergy (anaphylactic shock).

External differences

Well, let's understand in detail how a bee differs from a wasp and a bumblebee. Since we perceive 90% of information about the outside world with our eyes, let’s start with what we see, or rather with our appearance. The difference in size and body structure between the bumblebee, wasp and bee is significant. What are their external differences?

The body of the wasp is thin and elongated, smooth, slightly lowered in the area of ​​the abdomen and head. The chest and abdomen are connected by a thin bridge (this is where the expression “wasp waist” comes from). The front of the chest and head are black. The abdomen is brightly colored with black and yellow wide stripes. The wings are thin and transparent. There are antennae on the head. The body length is no more than 1.5 cm. Hornets, which are the largest representatives of wasps, can grow up to 5 cm in length.

On a note! A wasp can also be distinguished by the presence of a more powerful jaw. In a bee it is much smaller. The bumblebee has an even more powerful jaw.

A bee and a wasp differ in the structure of their sting. The wasp's weapon is similar to a needle - it easily enters the skin and is freely removed. When attacked, the insect can sting up to 5 times.

• Fact No. 1. Wasps living in a large colony know each other by sight. At the same time, insects living in small families do not have this ability.
• Fact No. 2. Not all wasps build nests. There are species that prefer to live in burrows in the ground.
• Fact No. 3. One bee colony can produce more than 20 kg of honey per month. A wasp colony of the same size will collect at most a teaspoon.

Hornets

The body structure of hornets is similar to wasps (it’s not for nothing that they are closest relatives). The color is also black and yellow (sometimes dark brown and yellow). Of all the insects described in the article, hornets have the most powerful jaws and the largest sizes. Any hornet is 2-3 times larger than a bee or bumblebee. They grow up to 5 cm in length. It is difficult to confuse an insect of this size with another. In flight it buzzes quite loudly.

• Fact No. 1. It is suspected that eastern hornets are capable of converting sunlight into electrical energy. But how insects use this is still unknown.
• Fact No. 2. The ancient Mayan warriors used hornets as weapons of mass destruction. With the help of throwing devices, they threw hornet nests with all their inhabitants into the ranks of the enemy. Angry insects sowed panic, unrest and mercilessly stung everyone they came across.
• Fact No. 3. Oddly enough, the hornets themselves are not aggressive. They only attack if there is a direct threat.

Bees

The size of a normal bee is equal to or slightly smaller than the size of a wasp. The color is also striped, but paler. Some breeds of bees are completely grayish. The transition from chest to abdomen is smoother. The shape of the head is triangular. Unlike the wasp, the body of the bee is covered with hairs, which act as organs of touch. The paws are thick, black in color, with small hairs. Body length is about 1 cm.

Bees form a family consisting of three types of insects: the queen bee, the worker bee and the drone. The queen bee can reach 2.5 cm in length. In wasps, the queen is forced to take care of herself on her own.

• Fact No. 1. Regular honey bees have 5 eyes. Two large compound and three simple eyes. Compound eyes consist of a large number of facets and are located on the sides of the head, and simple eyes are located on the crown of the head (in the drone, the simple eyes are somewhat shifted to the forehead).
• Fact No. 2. Bees do not perceive the color red. That is why, when checking the condition of the hives in the winter hut in winter, beekeepers use red lights.
• Fact No. 3. No matter how far a bee flies in search of nectar from its hive, it will always find its way home.

bumblebees

Unlike everyone else, the bumblebee is a calm, shaggy fat fellow. Not aggressive. Attacks only in case of self-defense or defense of its nest. Its dimensions are more impressive than those of wasps and bees. Yellow-black wide stripes are visible on the body. The head is slightly lowered down. Some have completely black or reddish stripes. One of the distinctive features of the bumblebee is its hind legs, or rather its legs. They have long hairs along the edges, which form a collecting apparatus, the so-called “basket”. Only females can boast of such a basket.

If you can roughly imagine the sizes of a bee, wasp and bumblebee, then it is better to show the size of a hornet in the photo. It will be clearer this way. After this, you are unlikely to confuse him with someone else.

The size of the hornet for a more accurate representation.

External differences

It must be said that from a certain distance it is not always possible to say with certainty what kind of insect is flying, a bee or a wasp.
Still, both species (and in this review we will consider and compare exactly the species, using the example of the common wasp and the honey bee) belong to the same order of Hymenoptera, and naturally, they cannot differ in the same way that a grasshopper differs from a butterfly. Stinging insects.

But, in fact, these two types of insects actually have much more different than they have in common. And this statement concerns both their essence and lifestyle, as well as external characteristics.

So, how do wasps differ from bees in appearance?

Let's list the main differences, and these include:

• body shape;
• thickness of the transition between the thoracic segment and abdomen;
• presence/absence of insect body hair;
• paw thickness;
• body painting.

Now let's explain each of the listed points.

Perhaps one of the main characteristics of all wasps, which distinguishes these insects from others, is their so-called “waist”, comparison with which has long become a catchphrase. Indeed, in the structure of its body, the predator has a very narrow transition from the thoracic section to the abdomen.

Also, a bee is distinguished from a wasp by the presence of very noticeable thick hair, especially on the thoracic segment of the body. The wasp, on the contrary, does not have visible hairs on its body, its body is smooth.

Bees have fleshier, so to speak, black legs. Wasps' limbs are usually yellow, and they are also longer and thinner than those of a bee.

And finally, both types of insects have very different body colors, especially coloring is a characteristic distinguishing feature of the wasp. If you look very closely at representatives of both species, it is impossible not to recognize the striped predator.

Its bright black and yellow color, together with the predatory expression of its “face,” reveals in it a stinging killer much more clearly than one can identify in the calmer and more comfortable appearance of a bee, a stinging hymenoptera insect that is also capable of standing up for itself.

Despite the fact that both species have a gnawing-licking mouthparts, the wasp still has much more impressive mandibles, which emphasizes the aggressiveness of the species and its focus on fighting and attacking.

Preventing insect stings

It is difficult to avoid encounters with insects outside the city, since there a person finds himself visiting nature. Therefore, it is worth carrying allergy pills with you. When visiting the apiary, wear special clothing. When making jam, close the windows so as not to tempt wasps and bees. When picking fruit in the garden, protect your hands with thick gloves or inspect each fruit for insects.

The favorite delicacy of wasps, hornets, and bees is ripe sweet fruits: pears, plums, apples

When relaxing in the forest or on the river bank, be careful:

• when looking for a parking place, first check to see if there are insect nests nearby;
• do not walk barefoot;
• do not disturb the houses of wasps and hornets, they will certainly attack;
• when they see a stinging insect, they behave calmly and do not wave their arms so as not to provoke aggression;
• the biting insect is not killed; the body of the killed one exudes an enzyme that will provoke an attack by its relatives.

When going outdoors, do not use perfumes containing apple and banana fragrances. The listed odors attract hornets and wasps.

Stinging insect bites are treated with compresses and ointments. In case of allergies, antihistamines are used. If after a bite the victim’s breathing is impaired and his consciousness is swimming, immediately call an ambulance

To avoid insect attacks, be careful when picking fruit, making jam and finding a place to camp in nature.

How to react to these insects?

To avoid being stung by a bee or bumblebee, you do not need to drive away the insects by waving your arms or touching their nest. While remaining motionless, the individual can only sit on the skin and then leave you alone. You are allowed to brush off the insect with a piece of paper.

Some bees and bumblebees react negatively to aggressive odors such as alcohol, sweat, perfume or scented soap. Therefore, it is better to avoid using them before visiting an insect activity area.

You should also avoid walking on the grass barefoot. Insects react with aggression to bright accessories and clothing.

Why don't bees and other insects swarm?

Bees swarm whenever the colony reaches its maximum number of bees ( up to 5,000 in winter, up to 40,000 in summer

), and another bee colony must be formed. The older bees fly with the original queen to the appropriate location to begin building the honeycomb again. In the original hive, the young bees wait for a new queen, who has produced a queen bee before leaving, slips in and a new state can be established.

When you find a swarm in your garden or area, don't worry, they usually won't sting until they find a new spot. It may even happen that several bee strains with queens evolve from the original strain, if the first new queen immediately kills its rivals. Wasps do not swarm because only their queen survives the winter.

Diet and storage of supplies

Bee, bumblebee and wasp

Here the greatest differences are observed between these three representatives of the order Hymenoptera. The family of true bees are vegetarians and feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. Wasps are omnivores with a bias towards predators and scavengers.

The difference between a bee and a bumblebee in this area is that the former make provisions for the winter and leave for the winter with the whole family. The second needs honey only for feeding the larvae. Of the entire bumblebee family, only the queen remains for the winter. Therefore, although they know how to make honey, bumblebees do not prepare it and use it only for feeding larvae.

Wasps can eat:

• ripe fruits;
• jam;
• insects;
• carrion.

They feed the larvae with protein food. To do this, in nature, workers catch insects, including green corpse flies. In urban environments, they bite off small pieces of meat at the market or find the corpse of a dead animal.

They do not make reserves for the winter, since the entire aspen family dies out in the fall, and only the queen “leaves” for the winter.

Lifestyle and nutrition

When it comes to bees, their diet consists solely of pollen and nectar. They feed with the help of a long proboscis, which is equipped with a mouthparts. Bumblebees and hornets also do not refuse nectar.

Hornets have a real sweet tooth and love berries and fruits, but their diet also includes small insects, which they can easily destroy with the help of their powerful jaws. It is worth saying that they are quite fearless, since there are cases when they even attacked small animals.

Wasps are also aggressors and true predators, but they are not as brave as hornets, since they never choose large victims. They often attack bees, but in this case it is not so easy to win.

The bees are already accustomed to the attacks of their opponents and have developed their own defense schemes, thanks to which they win. Wasps also have a sweet tooth; they love ripe fruits and berries, and their favorite delicacies are honey, jam, and syrup.

All these insects lead a gregarious lifestyle and live in large colonies. But bumblebees go in search of food alone, and it is also worth mentioning that they do this early in the morning, when other nectar lovers are still sleeping.

It's hard to believe, but they can spend 18 hours a day collecting food. Bees go in search of food in small groups, but wasps can gather in groups of up to 30 individuals.

Hornets also go for food alone, and they can easily cover a distance of 10 kilometers. If during such a walk they discover a beehive, they mark the place with a special secretary, which they allocate so that they can return here soon, but with their relatives.

When attacking a hive, they mercilessly kill the bees, biting off their heads and paws. The main prey is honey, which wasps also love. For this reason, insects cannot coexist side by side.

How to help a victim while the ambulance is on the way

Experts from the authoritative research organization Mayo Clinic recommend Insect bites and stings: First aid to act this way.

Give adrenaline as soon as possible

Ask the stung person if he has an epinephrine auto-injector. If a person is allergic, he can have this device with him. If not, urgently send someone or run yourself to the nearest pharmacy for injection adrenaline.

The drug should be injected into the outer part of the thigh. Do not inject into a vein, gluteal muscle, leg below the knee, or arm as this may cause tissue damage.

Several injections may be needed. If after 10–15 minutes the condition does not improve and breathing difficulties, nausea, and weakness persist, administer adrenaline again.

Lay the victim horizontally

On the back or side - it doesn’t matter, as long as the person is comfortable. Remove from tight clothing and cover with a blanket, jacket, sweater

Do not give anything to drink or eat - this may cause vomiting.

If necessary, begin CPR

If the person is not breathing and/or has no heartbeat, perform mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration and chest compressions.

Wasp, bee, bumblebee, hornet - differences

Representatives of the insect family have both similarities and significant differences. They all fly, buzz and pose a threat in the form of a bite that releases a toxic substance. You need to understand that insects attack when there is a threat to life and in other cases they are not dangerous.

Bees are quite calm, hardworking, busy all day collecting nectar and pollen. The hive is working around the clock to build honeycombs, feed the young generation, ventilate, process and store the collected product. The lifespan of a worker bee is short, about a month, but with the rapid development of the young generation, it is invisible to others.

Who is stronger: wasp or bumblebee

Insects differ in the nature of their behavior - the bumblebee is a calm insect and uses its weapon in extreme cases, the wasp is very aggressive and attacks an enemy larger than it in size. Wasps often rob the nests of bumblebees, eating their supplies, using their stings and bites with their jaws when attacking. A healthy bumblebee family easily copes with robbers, but if the family is weak, then a wasp swarm wins, which can kill not only the working bumblebees, but also the entire young generation of the bumblebee family.

Huge Asian hornet (Vespa mandarina japonica).

It is no longer than a finger in size, however, this creature is capable of spraying acid from its proboscis, which eats through human flesh. In addition, this hornet usually “shoots” directly into the eyes. And very accurately. It is also almost impossible to escape from it, because this little monster flies at a speed of 80 km/h. And, the most terrible detail: the venom of this hornet contains special pheromones that are “heard” by its other brothers. They quickly flock around their prey, after which it has virtually no chance of survival. Hornets kill an average of 40 people every year.

Appearance

Bee

The bee is distinguished by its discreet color and shaded black and yellow stripes. The body is shaggy, without a pronounced transition from the chest to the tummy, the legs are plump, black and shaggy, the jaws are small. The back is black with a yellow coating, the posterior segment of the body has dark yellow stripes. The size of the worker and the queen bee is different.

Wasp

The main difference between a wasp and a bee is the presence of a waist. It has a sharp transition from the sternum to the tummy, the body itself is smooth and elongated. What distinguishes it from others is its color: in wasps it is bright and contrasting, the back is black, with yellow splashes, the rear segment of the body is striped, black and yellow. The paws are yellow, the jaws are massive.

Bumblebee

The bumblebee is many times larger and hairier than bees and wasps. It has wide red stripes on its brown body. There are also pure black bumblebees. The differences between the female and the male are the presence of antennae on the latter. The bumblebee, unlike other species, is a universal pollinator; its nests must be protected.

Hornet

The largest of all the insects described above. It has powerful jaws and a large body, the color is striped black and yellow, hornets grow up to 5 cm, the queens are usually larger than the males. It differs in body structure from the wasp in being less graceful. Although the hornet is a close relative of the wasp, there are individuals without stripes, with a uniform brown or orange color.

Hornet

bumblebees

Bumblebees are very similar in appearance to bees, only larger, reaching 2.5 centimeters in length. They buzz very loudly. The color of individuals is black with yellow stripes; they are also found with red and orange stripes. The body is covered with hairs and it looks very shaggy, thanks to these hairs it pollinates plant flowers. There are two transparent wings on the back.

Bumblebees live in earthen nests, 300 individuals in one family. Bumblebees feed on nectar and pollen, just like bees produce honey, but it is not used in human nutrition. Their sting is short in length and has no serrations. Uses it many times for his protection. Their bites are very dangerous to health.

Certain blood types sting people more often

Those who smell good to mosquitoes and bumblebees are often stung. Mosquitoes are first attracted to components of human sweat. It's not just sweat, breath, or more specifically carbon dioxide that can attract mosquitoes to spy on their victims. Other odors that attract them are lactic acid, uric acid, body heat and ammonia.

This explains, for example, why athletes are more likely to be stung than other people, because they produce significantly more lactic acid during exercise. The composition of bacteria on the skin also plays an important role. Blood type 0

is the most popular according to tests by the Institute of Pest Control Technology.

Habitat

It is clear that the place of residence for domestic bees is hives built by humans. Wild representatives of this family (wasps) prefer to build nests in tree hollows. Bumblebees look for more secluded places, building their homes in the ground, less often in birdhouses and tree trunks. Both are found in fields and villages; they can also be found in city parks and botanical gardens.

Hornets build nests in rock cracks, hollows and tree branches, as well as under the eaves of buildings. Almost everywhere they are built by wasps. The home of stinging insects can be located on the stems of plants, in the branches of bushes, and in the attics of bathhouses, sheds or verandas. By biting off pieces of fiber from wood, they moisten them with their saliva, as a result of which the building material becomes like thick paper.

The device of the sting and the consequences of the bite

The stinger structure of a bee (left) and a wasp (right)

At the same time, insects use their stings differently. Wasps and hornets are known for their aggressive behavior. Bees and bumblebees are never the first to attack.

A bee sting is very painful. After piercing the skin, poison is injected. The jagged design of the sting prevents the bee from retracting it. She is fatally injured and dies

The sting must be carefully pulled out from under the skin, trying not to crush the capsule with toxic contents, so as not to provoke further penetration of the poison into the body. In people prone to allergies, a bee sting can lead to anaphylactic shock.

A wasp sting causes severe sharp pain, redness and swelling. Aggression from an insect can be caused by:

• sudden movements of the hands;
• bright color of clothes;
• strong perfume smell.

It has been repeatedly noted that wasps attack people who are allergic to their stings. Cases have been recorded where insect attacks have resulted in death.

The wasp's muscles are stronger than those of the bee, and the sting does not have hooks, so after the injection the insect quickly retracts it into the abdomen. Thus, it remains alive and is able to repeatedly use its sharp sting.

The sting of a bumblebee is short, hollow, and smooth. It is intended for reusable use. However, the insect uses it only when absolutely necessary. There is numbness at the site of the lesion, it turns red and swells.

The length of the hornet sting reaches 3 mm. The poison that fills it contains:

• toxins;
• histamines;
• acetylcholine.

These substances lead to irritation of nerve endings, increased heart rate, and pain. Hornets are less aggressive towards humans, unlike wasps.

Earth bees: description, methods of control

How can you distinguish

The color of wasps is much brighter and more contrasting than that of bees.
What a bee looks like

Despite the fact that the appearance of these insects is almost identical, there are several features that allow you to distinguish them:

1. The color of wasps is much brighter and more contrasting than that of bees. Rich yellow stripes give way to sharp blacks. Bees have softer and smoother color transitions. Also, some individuals have inclusions of white and brown colors.
2. Bees carry pollen, thereby pollinating flowers. Therefore, their body is covered with fluff, so the pollen sticks better. Wasps have a smooth body and a glossy abdomen.
3. The shape of the wasps is elongated, they are thinner. Bees are round and plump.
4. There are always clumps of pollen on bee feet.
5. A bee's nest consists of wax honeycombs, a wasp's nest is made of clay and plant remains.
6. Insects can also be distinguished by the area in which they are found. If this is an apiary or a flower meadow, then with a high probability there is a bee; if this is a city market, a landfill, or a park area within the city, then with a high probability it could be a wasp.

What is the difference between a bite

These insects belong to the same class - Stinging insects. The weapon of attack, the sting, is physiologically a transformable ovipositor. Accordingly, only females attack. What is the difference between a bee sting and a wasp sting?

1. The presence of a sting in the wound. This is the main difference - the bee's stinger has characteristic saw-like serrations. The pointed shape makes it easy to penetrate the skin. After this, the bee makes a jerk in the opposite direction, but the notches do not allow it to come out. The sting comes off the bee along with part of the abdomen, pulsates in the human body, releasing poison. The bee flies away and dies within a few minutes. The wasp's sting is smooth and sharp, like a needle. It easily penetrates and is extracted from the skin. Therefore, in one attack, a wasp can sting 5 or more times, then fly away freely.
2. Instant reaction of the body. The difference is that wasp venom is more toxic. Therefore, after its bite, a local manifestation of allergy immediately occurs. In addition, due to the wasps feeding on sewage, infection is possible. After a bee sting, allergies can only occur if there is individual intolerance. As a rule, the pain goes away immediately after the sting is removed.
3. Bee venom contains an acid that can be neutralized with alkali. For example, wash the bite site with soap.

Habitat

Bees can be found wherever there are flowering plants. You cannot see them in a hot desert or in places with a cold climate.

The most favorite place where bees like to settle are mountain crevices, abandoned holes or hollows of large trees. For their hives they choose only reliable support. It is very good if there is a body of water nearby. It is better with running water - a river or stream, but not a swamp. The hive must be reliably protected from strong winds.

The habitat of wasps is quite extensive. They can mainly be found in the Northern Hemisphere. The largest number of wasps on Earth is concentrated here. These insects try to build a nest closer to humans and trees. This allows them to easily and quickly obtain food and build nests and hatch larvae.

Where can you find a bumblebee? Where can you not meet him? The ability to maintain a high body temperature allowed the bumblebee to live even in the north. They fly to Chukotka, Greenland and Alaska. And all thanks to interesting thermoregulation, which at the same time does not allow them to live in the tropics. Bumblebees are found in North America, northern Eurasia and in places where there are mountains. Nevertheless, two species of these insects were found that took root in the tropics of Brazil.

The exciting life of wasps

Wasps are no less intelligent and developed insects than bees. This is absolutely not surprising, because they are relatives. In this particular case, the important information about bees, wasps and bumblebees concerns family relationships. It has long been known that wasps prefer to live in entire colonies. It all begins in the spring of the year, when the female independently arranges a nest, where she lays eggs. After about 26 days, larvae emerge from them. It is very interesting that only females are born. At the same time, their mother lays eggs again, causing the colony to grow significantly larger. Closer to autumn, males and other females appear in it, adapted to fertility.

A very important feature that wasps have is visual memory. Scientists have proven that these insects are actually able to distinguish each other by their faces

True, this applies only to those wasps that belong to social species. They are accustomed to existing while observing a strictly structured hierarchy. Only those individuals that prefer to live alone cannot distinguish faces. In truth, they have no need for such an ability at all. Social species of wasps, meanwhile, can even become attached to individual individuals. Thus, they choose their favorites with whom they prefer to spend all their time

The mother wasp also pays special attention to some larvae in the nest. True, it is not entirely clear on what principle she selects them.

In this case, you can place special emphasis on the bumblebee. In this situation we are talking about a unique species of bees. Among representatives of science, these insects are associated primarily with paradox and a real mystery. This mainly concerns the amazing aerodynamic abilities of bumblebees. Without exception, all the laws of physics known to mankind indicate that these insects should not be able to fly. However, bumblebees not only fly, but also do it very quickly.

The similarity between bees and bumblebees is that most of their colony consists of workers and very hardworking individuals. True, in the case of bumblebees we are talking more about forwarders. In the summer, they fly around flowers and collect nectar from them, which is subsequently stored inside an equipped nest. This is done by not fully developed females. Their main advantage is very good and focused vision. This ability allows them to distinguish colors and select the brightest buds for pollination. Gradually, they gain experience, which is why they accurately identify the most fragrant and productive plants.