There is a big difference between wasp and bee, these animals only share the fact that they are flying insects, since both their appearance and their behavior are completely different, in addition to that, their diet does not match. It is very common for these two insects to be confused, especially when they approach us and fear invades us, however, if we observe them closely, we will notice their differences.
Morphological differences between bees and wasps
Both bees and wasps have a great abundance of subspecies within their species, but even with all this, the different types of bees that exist share similarities with each other that are completely different from the morphology of bees. The same happens in the opposite case. We are going to know what is the difference between wasp and bee more outstanding.
Let's start by mentioning the differences in their colors. Wasps, in general, have a range of dark colors that go from black to dark brown mixed with yellow, even some of its species, such as the Asian wasp, can have a large part of their body black or white. brown which makes them look much darker than some other types. On the other hand, bees are not so dark brown mixed with gold, although some say they have yellow, this is not correct.
Other notable differences between these two animals is that the wasps have a much thinner area in their body that separates their abdomen from the chest, this is the well-known "wasp waist", the bees for their part, although they also have with this narrowness, it is not as noticeable as in wasps. We can also notice that bees, unlike wasps, are hairy, since a large part of their body is covered with keratin hairs.
The fact that bees die after stinging once is not a myth, because this is due to the fact that they have small protuberances similar to spikes on their stingers, which when the bee tries to remove the stinger tears the interior from her abdomen causing her to die. On the other hand, wasps do not have this inconvenience, their stingers are smooth since it is part of their reproductive system, so stinging, even several times, does not represent any danger to them.
It is worth mentioning that a peculiarity of the wasp species is that there are some of these that lack wings, since they are not completely dispensable.
Differences in their diets
Due to their diets, both species have a physical difference that makes them stand out. Wasps have strong mandibles that they use to eat their prey. In the case of bees, they have small tubes known as proboscises, which they use to suck and then release nectar from the flowers they take.
The main food source of bees is nectar, these are Herbivorous animals and fully specialize in honey production. The queen bee, however, has a different diet, since she only consumes royal jelly, a substance made only by the other bees in the colony. On the other hand, wasps are mostly carnivorous, although there are some that in their adulthood can live on nectar. Wasp larvae are mostly plant-based parasites.
Almost all wasps can feed on vegetables and carrion, this is considered to be omnivorous animals. There are cases in which wasps have been seen going to bee hives, attacking them in order to feed on their nectar reserves and also on their larvae, since they have a large amount of protein that feeds them.
The role of bees and wasps in the ecosystems where they live
The main role of bees in nature is to be pollinators, since they carry out this role in an extraordinary way, especially with some specific flowers and plants that others Types of animals they can not. Although the truth is that there are other pollinating animals, such as some of the hummingbirds, bees can also play part of this task, since some of them, by feeding on plant matter, can fulfill this function.
On the other hand, bees have a fundamental role in hunting insects, they sometimes take one and lay their eggs on it so that when the larvae hatch they can feed on it. In some farms or cultivation areas, wasps are usually introduced voluntarily, as they serve to keep pests that affect crops under control. This is a difference between wasp and bee that we can notice in nature.
Habitacles and society of wasps and bees
Let's start by talking about wasps. These animals can be solitary or live in communities, some of them prefer to be on their own, however, those that live in swarms build their honeycomb using mud which they themselves work so that it can be molded.
On the other hand, the abajas are only sociable, they cannot live alone because their life is essentially based on hierarchy, for which each bee has a fundamental role in their swarm, therefore, they cannot do everything by themselves. Unlike the honeycomb of wasps, their hives are made from wax, it is there where honey is created, their larvae live and breed.
Larvae and reproduction
There is a particularity in the reproduction of bees, because not all the females of a colony are fertile, in fact, only the queen bee is, she is the only one that lays eggs, this means that she is the mother of almost all the bees belonging to their hive. In wasps the system is a little different, because although in some hives the queen is also the only fertile one, this does not happen in all of them. However, solitary female wasps are all capable of reproducing and procreating.
While the only thing the bee larvae eat is the nectar that the adults bring them, the wasp larvae are carnivorous, because being parasitic they feed on the animal on which they were deposited when they were just eggs, these insects also from becoming walking incubators they also become food.
Other differences between bees and wasps
Only female wasps have stingers, since this is part of their reproductive system, it is through this conduit that they expel their eggs, which will be placed on some other insect until they become larvae. The stinger also fulfills the function of a poison injector, although this does not always work, as they sometimes do not inject poison into their prey.
Wasps can sting more than once, as she does not die when doing so. In fact, there are a few species of wasps that can be honey producers. Wasp honey is used for human consumption, although it is not as common as bee honey, it is also very popular.
In the case of bees, all of them have a stinger, this is a tool they use only to defend themselves. Unlike wasps, bees are not aggressive, they will only attack if you feel they are in danger, they are normally calm animals that look for flowers to drink their nectar. All bees are poisonous, when they sting they inject their poison into the prey. These do die after a sting, because when they lose their sting they tear inside.
Can wasps be dangerous to bees and humans?
Wasps can be dangerous animals when they become a calamity, as they can completely destroy a hive of bees. If this happens, it would greatly affect the ecosystem, since bees are essential for it. This is the biggest difference between wasp and bee that we can know.
In addition to this, wasps can be harmful to humans, not only because of the danger posed by their stings, especially when they attack in swarms, but they can also negatively affect the crops of the place where they are, in addition to this , if they are in places where people are usually outdoors in the summer, they can be a serious threat that prevents these activities from taking place.
Although we have known what the difference between bee and wasp is, we must highlight that there is a great disparity between them in regards to their importance in the environment. Although the bee or wasp fulfills a specific function, wasps can be extremely dangerous for the planetary balance, it is for this reason that constant vigilance must be maintained on them and preventive measures must be taken in case of noticing that they become a complication. in your area of residence.
