Bees & Wasps
Bees & Wasps
What you need to know
Bees and wasps are similar in some ways but are very different creatures with distinct behaviors. Usually, bees benefit the environment, but they can pose a threat if they nest near your home, especially if you have family members who are allergic. Wasps are also problematic because they can sting multiple times and tend to be more aggressive.
Treatment varies depending on which pest it is. Before bees become adults, they live in the hive. Once they reach the pupae stage, they wrap themselves in cocoons and hatch as adults.
Three types of bees are produced: queens, males, and female worker bees. Wasp colonies are made up of queens, males, and workers, which provide food and supplies to the larvae and build the nest.
Basic Biology
BEES
- Egg
- Larval
- Pupae
- Adult
An adult bee colony is a complex society with a single queen, male drones, and female workers. While they can sting to defend their hive, they are typically not aggressive and are crucial to the environment.
WASP
- Egg
- Larval
- Adult
Inside The Hive
BEES
The hive contains three types of bees: queens, males, and female worker bees. Queens are responsible for laying eggs to sustain and grow the colony. Male bees’ sole purpose is to fertilize the queen; after mating, they die. Worker bees are sterile females that forage for nectar and bring it back to the hive, where they convert it into honey using a special gland.
When threatened, bees will defend their colony by attacking. Honey bees can sting only once, while bumblebees can sting multiple times. All bees follow orders from the queen(s) and leave the hive daily to collect nectar for honey production.
WASP
Wasps can be either social insects, forming colonies, or solitary, living independently. They lay eggs that hatch without parental care. Wasp colonies may consist of thousands of individuals, with female workers handling all nest activities. Wasps can be predatory, hunting other insects and animals to feed their larvae, or parasitic, laying eggs in dead insects or animals.
Like bees, wasps play an important role in the environment. Some help control crop-damaging pests by hunting them, while others feed on nectar and aid in pollination. Certain species are aggressive and will attack if they feel threatened. Unlike honeybees, wasps can sting multiple times.