Flying and stinging insects are all the same.
Not really, though.
While they both have wings and a stinger, wasps and honey bees are two very different species.
It is important to know the difference, especially when it comes to eradicating a stinging insect problem.
Honey bees are meant to be protected.
In fact, the Canadian Honey Council states that they are vital for the pollination of fruit, vegetables, and canola seeds.
When crops are pollinated, they produce more, and a bee can increase production two to eight times.
The Disappearing Honey Bee Epidemic
Mass extinctions of honey bees is one thing researchers fear the most.
Homeowners and property owners must recognize the importance of a honey bee and never exterminate them.
Companies offering pest management in Toronto will not harm honey bees, but they will gladly remove wasps.
According to the Centre for Research on Globalization, a dramatic honey bee decline has occurred since 2006, but researchers do not know why.
What About Bees that Look Like Wasps?
Some honey bees can look like wasps; therefore, some may remove their hives and kill their nests if they are a nuisance rather than honey bees.
The bees that look like wasps have limited hair on their bodies. They still collect pollen, but it is internal instead of on the outside of their body.
The UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab points out that bees evolved from predatory wasps, known as apoid wasps. Therefore, bees and wasps have similarities.
However, up close, a person can typically tell the difference between a wasp and bee. Also, their behaviors and mannerisms can indicate if they are in fact a bee or a predatory wasp.
The Physical Characteristics
Before calling your local Toronto wasp exterminator, you can look for the physical characteristics to help tell if you have a bee or wasp on your hands.
Both have different body structures, with the bee featuring a hairy body and legs, while the wasp is relatively smooth.
Also, the thorax and abdomen of the bee are round, while a wasp is cylindrical and longer.
When it comes to color, the Western honey bee is amber to brown, says Wikipedia.
It has alternating black stripes, and the color will depend on the variation and breed. A Bumblebee is yellow with black stripes and a red tail.
A wasp, also known as a paper wasp, is a dirty yellow with dark brown and black features.
Their legs are longer than honey bees, and their tops typically have black with yellow spots.
Behaviors and Mannerisms
A bee will bounce from flower to flower and hover for a minute while they pick up and drop off pollen. They are gentle.
If you were to work in a flower garden next to a bee, it would not sting you.
It may buzz in your face and become a nuisance, but for the most part, they are gentle and not aggressive.
The only time a honey bee will harm someone is if they feel threatened.
A wasp, on the other hand, is extremely aggressive.
It eats other insects for its diet, while honey bees focus on nectar and pollen.
If you approach a wasp’s nest, the nest could swarm on you in defense.
Also, a wasp does not need much provoking before it attacks a person.
Nests
A pest control service in Toronto can tell a wasp’s nest from a bee’s nest immediately.
A bee’s nest is a large colony that is flat and has a wax-based honeycomb coating.
It hangs vertically and often is found on trees.
Wasps like to create small umbrella-looking paper nests that hang horizontally.
They will usually build under protected areas, such as inside children’s toys, eaves, soil cavities, and attic spaces.
Never Remove a Wasp’s Nest! Contact a Toronto Wasp Exterminator
If you have a wasp problem, never attempt to remove the colony or the nest on your own.
Wasps are extremely territorial; therefore, at the first sign of feeling threatened they would take action.
Wasps do not die after stinging their victim either; therefore, they can continue to sting and cause severe reactions.
The team at Power Pest Control, Inc. can help you with your wasp infestation.
Whether they are nestled in your attic or under the eaves of your porch, contact our team to remove the wasp’s nest and keep them from coming back.
Schedule a wasp nest removal appointment by calling us at 647-708-7378 or contact us online with your questions about wasps and other stinging insects.
