Bees / Wasps / Hornets

Africanized bees looks so much like a regular honeybee that the only way to tell the two apart is by measuring their bodies. Africanized bees have different wing measurements than honeybees. This bee gets the name “killer” bee because of their swarming and nesting habits. They will attack individuals when swarming or when disturbed and are more aggressive then honey bees. Africanized “killer” bee problems were introduced into South America and have made there way north into southern areas of the United States.

Bumble bees are beneficial insects because they pollinate crops and plants. They can be of various sizes are covered with hairs, and generally black and yellow. They can range in size from ¼ to ½ inch. Bumble bee infestations live in small colonies with one queen. As part of their aggressive defense of their nests, bumble bee infestations will chase nest invaders for a considerable distance. The bumble bee sting is one of the most painful. Unlike honey bees, bumble bees can sting more then once. Anyone who is allergic to stings should avoid bees and wasps.

Carpenter bees are large robust bees, resembling bumble bees (eastern species, pictured) while a west coast carpenter bee is very distinctive (males being all black and females being yellow-amber color). In the areas east of the Mississippi, they are mostly black. Males of this species can be identified by the whitish mark on their head. Carpenter bees are generally solitary nesters (compared to bumble-bees, which nest in small colonies), and they make a nearly perfect round hole in wood, including the siding and soffits of structures.

The cicada killer wasp is a large wasp 1-11/2 inches long. They make a hole in the ground where their eggs are laid. The developing larvae feeds off of cicadas supplied by the female. 

Cicada killers are not aggressive but can sting. Their size usually scares people. Their activity is most visible in the spring of the year after the larvae develop and emerge from the nest and can be found in gardens feeding on pollen. 

Honeybees are social insects found all over the world. They are an extremely beneficial insect because of their role in pollination. Honey bees pollinate more than 100 crops in the U.S. as important as they are honeybee infestations can become a problem. Probably one of the most recognizable insects, their hives can be found in hollow trees or in houses. They survive winters on honey produced in the nest.

There are two “hornets” commonly found in the United States: the European hornet and the bald faced hornet. These are two of the largest stinging insects. The bald faced is actually a black and white yellow jacket approx 3/8 inch long. The European hornet is a true hornet with yellow, amber and brown markings Adults are typically over ½ inch long and the queen can be 7/8 inch long.

A couple identifying features of these insects: They are brightly colored with dark wings, many have this “thread like” “waists” When the land they often “flick” their wings as they move around.

Mud daubers are solitary wasps making a variety of different type nests. Organ pipe nest pictured here. They use mud to make nests and supply food usually spiders to the developing larvae. The wasps emerge and do not return to the nests.

There are several species of paper wasps. They generally range from ¼ inch to ½ inch in size. They may be of various colors and sizes. Their nest can be an identification feature as it usually hangs upside down with the brood cells exposed. Their nests are generally small with fewer than 100 wasps. They are not usually aggressive unless they are disturbed. 

Wasp infestations can make nests in openings and on exterior furniture and light fixtures, under deck railings, under the eaves of structures. The queens can over winter inside structures in the attic area and may become active during warm days in winter, commonly flying to windows. Wasp problems are attracted to lights but generally are not active at night.

There are many species of yellow jackets. They are generally black and yellow in color and 1.4 inches long. Queens are typically 3/8 inch long. Identification of individual species can be done by reviewing the markings on their abdomens. Their nests may become very large with hundreds to even thousands of individuals. Over wintering, queens start the nest in the spring and it enlarges throughout the summer. Queens will spend winter outside under debris, logs and occasionally inside attics. With most yellow jacket problems, the nest dies out in the winter; in some regions, the individuals in the nest may over winter.

German yellow jackets typically nest in attics. This is a stinging insect and people can be allergic. Depending on the species, these wasps may nest in shrubbery or trees, on buildings, in attics and in wall voids of structures. Generally, they are a very aggressive stinging insect; individuals can sting several times.