The bee and the wasp diverged from a common ancestor over 100,000 years ago. Bees are herbivores who gather pollen for their offspring, whereas wasps and hornets are carnivores who feast on other insects. One important similarity is that only females have stingers.

Distinctive features that set wasps apart from other stinging insects like bees, hornets, and yellow jackets

Differences in look, color, and body texture are most noticeable. Although wasps, hornets, and yellowjacket wasps have fuzzy bodies, bumblebees and honeybees have smooth bodies. Bees have a variety of colors and patterns on their abdomen, whereas wasps might be solid yellow or black.

A bee's thorax and abdomen are spherical, and its legs are flat and broad. The honey bee has a triangular thorax with three legs. A honey bee's eyes, antennae, and feeding parts all reside in its head. Most bee species have small, stocky bodies completely covered with hair. The little waist joins the torso with the abdomen.

Several over one hundred thousand species of wasps may be easily mistaken for bees. Wasps, in general, are hairless, colorful, and long and slender in the waist (the junction between the thorax and abdomen). In contrast to a bee's, the legs of a wasp tend to droop while the insect is in flight. Simply put, wasps are significantly more dangerous than bees because they are more aggressive.

Hornets are a subspecies of the wasp family. Differences in body thickness between hornets and other wasps help set them apart from their cousins. They share the same subfamily as the lesser yellow jacket species but are noticeably bigger and more often black and white. The European hornet is a relatively recent arrival to North America; it may grow as big as a carpenter bee.

What are the means through which to recognise them?

    Hornets

Although all wasps are in the same family as hornets, hornets are not always wasps. No native hornet species exist. This insect, which is similar in appearance to a giant yellowjacket, may grow to be between one to one and a half inches in length, and it makes it's home underground or in tree hollows.

The bald-faced hornet is a paper wasp closely related to the yellowjacket, yet it is another "hornet" we often meet. They are mostly black, but their faces and bellies are white. You have undoubtedly come upon one of its enormous, grey, basketball-sized nests swaying high in a tree.

Much talk has been in the media about a new hornet released on the West Coast. The Asian giant hornet is also known as the "murder hornet" because it attacks honey bee hives, murdering the bees by tearing off their heads, devouring the honey, and taking the larvae to give to its own young. At a length of 2 inches, they are the wasps' kings of the jungle. They are often called "sparrow wasps" in Japan because they resemble little birds in the air. Its venom contains a neurotoxin that causes excruciating agony for humans and, in around 50 cases each year, fatalities.

    Bees

Most people are acquainted with bees, among the most common stinging insects. Bees are more likely to provoke fear than wasps or hornets, and their stings are less unpleasant. Yet bees may establish nests close to your house and strike if they feel threatened. A few popular bee species might cause you and your property some trouble.

    Yellowjackets

Because of their striped black and yellow appearance, yellow jackets are often misidentified as bees. The yellow stripes on a yellow jacket are often more vibrant and shiny than those on a bee, and the insect is smooth rather than fuzzy or hairy. Another distinguishing feature is their narrow, "wasp-like" waist.

Yellow jackets protect their colonies, attacking if a human comes within a few feet of their nest or if a lawn mower creates a close sound or vibration. Yellow jackets often nest in the ground (old rodent tunnels are frequent homes) or occasionally in stone walls. Thousands of wasps may live in a single colony, and when disturbed, they swarm out of the nest, posing a serious threat to people and animals. If yellow jackets enter and exit your backyard via a hole, it's advisable to call a pest control service.

    Mud Dauber Wasp

While mud daubers are sometimes mistaken for paper wasps, their thin, black or blue abdomens may easily identify these insects. They construct tiny mud tubes, usually about one inch long, to use as nests. Nests of mud daubers are often found in the eaves of porches, sheds, and attics. Mud daubers, like paper wasps, won't sting until provoked but may cause a lot of pain if they do.

Removal of Wasp and Hornet Nests

You should use great care to remove a stinging insect nest on your own since doing so might disturb the insects within and result in a string. Painful stings may result from improper removal of nests. Although it's ideal to call in the pros like Dacre's Australia to remove a colony of bees or wasps, we've included some do-it-yourself strategies in case you find yourself in that situation.

    The stinging insect must be identified

Watch for stinging insects coming and going from the nest to determine what kind it is. If the nest removal fails, you must be ready for any stings that may result from the insects you tried to remove.

    Put on your safety gear

Dress in long-sleeved shirts, trousers, and a mask to keep your skin completely covered. Goggles designed to prevent eye damage are also required. You should use care and seal up any gaps in your clothes where stinging insects may get in.

    Nighttime nest approach

All stinging insects are nocturnal except for European hornets, which are active at night. You should sneak up on the enemy when they are resting.

    Use the right kind of bug spray

To be confident that you have successfully exterminated the insect colony, spray the whole nest as directed on the insecticide's packaging.

Do not get stuck near a wasp nest; if the wasps in the nest get agitated and swarm, you will receive hundreds of severe stings. You should either be prepared to run as far as you need to escape the stinging bug or hurry inside to avoid being followed by the wasps.

    Prepare to feel the sting

You'll probably be stung by a wasp at least once, even if you take all the precautions you can. You must have the correct first aid equipment available in case of any stings.

Conclusion

Stings from insects like bees and wasps may be excruciatingly painful and sometimes even lethal. With the arrival of summer comes the risk of having a hive of bees or other stinging insects set up shop on your property. Contact us if you would want to avoid the potential dangers of removing a stinging insect nest on your own.

Dacre's Australia pest control Brisbane guarantees to remove any beehive or wasp nest, no matter where it is. You may relax in the afternoons throughout the summer without fear of being stung by our efforts to prevent the stinging insect colony from re-establishing itself.