How to Tell the Difference Between Honeybees and Yellow Jackets

When a small, black, and yellow insect is quickly flying at you, it can be hard to tell at a glance if it’s a harmless honeybee, or if it’s an aggressive yellow jacket. But, although these two are similar in looks, there are some key distinctions to tell you the difference between honeybees and yellow jackets… and if you should be worried about them or not.

The Difference Between Honeybees and Yellow Jackets

The key difference between honeybees and yellow jackets is their appearance. However, there are also distinct differences in their behavior, nests, and their sting.

Honeybee

Honeybees are fuzzy and are more of an amber or darker yellow color. Their stripes are only down the back of their body, whereas their head and chest area is a brownish or amber color covered in hair. Their legs are generally black. Honeybees feed mostly on flowers, and they are gentle unless you immediately threaten their hive. They are only able to sting once before they die shortly after. Usually, honeybees are not a threat to humans and will only sting if you provoke them or their hive is under threat. A honeybee’s hive is made up of hanging combs where they produce honey. A bee hive can cause mold or structural damage to your home from the honey dripping. Honeybees should be removed and relocated by a professional, who will come safely relocate the bees away from your home.  

Yellow Jacket

Unlike honeybees, yellow jackets have black and bright yellow stripes all over their body. Their bodies are hard, smooth, and shiny, and they do not have hair like the honeybee. Yellow jackets also have bright yellow legs, unlike the honeybee’s black legs. They feed on insects, fruits, sugars, and meats, and they act extremely aggressively toward humans, even if they aren’t near their nest. Yellow jackets can sting you multiple times without dying afterward. Yellow jackets construct papery-looking nests that are built in spaces like holes in your walls or hanging under eaves on your home. Wasp nests should be removed immediately by a pest control company. While their nests won’t often damage your home, the wasps themselves are dangerous to have around your home.

Why Are Bees and Wasps Dangerous?

Both bees and wasps can be dangerous if you are allergic to them, and both should be removed by professionals. However, honeybees are generally very gentle towards humans and will only sting if they or their hive become threatened. Wasps, specifically yellow jackets, on the other hand, are very aggressive by nature and will sting humans and pets for no reason. Since yellow jackets can sting multiple times, they are even more dangerous to have around your home.

Need Honeybees or Yellow Jackets Removed?

If you have honeybees or yellow jackets around your home that you need to remove, Classic Pest Control & Insulation can safely remove and relocate them from your home. Call us to schedule an appointment, or reach out to us if you have any other questions.