It is easy to mistake bees for wasps. They’re both flying insects able to give painful and (for those with anaphylactic allergies) potentially deadly stings. They’re similar enough to get lumped into the same category and written off as dangerous insects. By recognizing the difference between wasps and bees, you can predict their behaviour and avoid a sting. Call Mr. Pest Control for insect and wasp nest removal from homes and businesses in the GTA.
PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES
Bees
- Rounded fuzzy body
- Flat dangling legs
- Barbed stinger that rips out of the bee and continues to pump venom into the victim
Wasps
- Long, slender, and shiny body
- Long cylinder-like legs
- Smooth stinger that retracts; can sting the victim multiple times
BEHAVIOURS
Bees
- Not aggressive unless provoked
- Spend days gathering pollen
- Feed on nectar and pollen from flowers
Wasps
- Range from aggressive to very aggressive
- Predator who hunts and eats other insects, often pollinating while hunting
- Feeds on other insects and scraps of human food
HOMES
Bees
- Live in waxy, flat honeycombs that usually hang vertically
- Between 10,000 and 50,000 bees live in a hive
Wasps
- Live in papery nests that look similar to inverted pears
- Typically have 3000- 6000 wasps in a nest
STING SYMPTOMS
Bees
- Pain, itching, and redness around the sting site
- Pain usually subsides/disappears in a few hours, but may continue for several days
Wasps
- Pain, burning, intense itching, and raised red welts
- Symptoms can persist for a day or longer
STING TREATMENT
The treatment for non-allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings is similar:
- Remove the stinger carefully, perhaps using tweezers (with bees, make sure to remove both stinger and venom sac)
- Clean the area with mild soap and water
- Apply ice to the sting site for 20 minutes an hour every hour until pain subsides.
- Ibuprofen or acetaminophen will reduce the pain of the sting; an antihistamine will relieve itching.
If you see a wasp nest or beehive very close to your home, do not try to remove it yourself. A professional pest control service in Ontario can safely solve this problem. Call Mr. Pest Control: 1-888-794-PEST(7378) to keep harmful insects away from your home, pets, and family.