Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Yellow Jackets, & Other Stinging Insects: How to Tell the Difference Between Stinging Insects
- Aug 5
- 8 min read
Hi Sweet Friends!
In our recent blog, "The Fear of Bees: Understanding It, Respecting It, and Gently Moving Past It," one of our readers left a wonderful suggestion:
"This was a good blog! Aside from honey bees, it would be helpful for people to be able to identify the different types of bees, what they look like, and how aggressive they are... like wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, large bumblebees, and their types of hives, nests, etc."
We loved this idea!
While we briefly touched on some of these differences in our previous blog, "Bee Stings: What's the Buzz and What to Do," we realized the topic deserved a guide of its own. Many people refer to every buzzing insect as a "bee," but honey bees, bumble bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and mud daubbers are all quite different. They vary in appearance, where they build their homes, what they eat, how they behave, and how likely they are to sting.
Learning to identify these insects can help replace fear with understanding. Some are important pollinators, others are excellent natural pest controllers, and each plays a unique role in our ecosystem. So let's take a closer look at some of the most common stinging insects you might encounter. Grab your Iced Salted Honey Blueberry Latte
using our new Blueberry Infused Honey. Yum!
Honey Bees
Honey bees are among the world's most important pollinators. Every day they visit thousands of flowers, helping plants produce fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, seeds, and many of the foods we enjoy.
What They Look Like
About ½ inch long
Golden-brown to amber with black stripes
Fuzzy body covered in tiny hairs
Often seen carrying yellow, orange, or cream-colored pollen on their hind legs
More rounded and less sleek than wasps
Where They Live
Honey bees are social insects that live in colonies of 20,000 to 60,000 bees. They build intricate wax combs inside:
Managed beehives
Hollow trees
Wall cavities
Other protected spaces
Behavior
Honey bees are remarkably gentle. Their main goal is collecting nectar and pollen—not bothering people. Since a worker honey bee dies after stinging, she only stings when she believes her colony is in danger.
What They Eat
Flower nectar
Pollen
Why They're Important
Honey bees pollinate many crops that feed both people and wildlife. Every visit to a flower helps another plant reproduce.
Bumble Bees
Bumble bees are another important native pollinator and are often mistaken for honey bees because of their fuzzy appearance. However, they are much larger and rounder.
What They Look Like
Large, chunky body
Very fuzzy
Black with bright yellow bands (some species have orange or white markings)
Loud, deep buzzing sound
Larger than honey bees
Where They Live
Unlike honey bees, bumble bees live in relatively small colonies of only 50 to a few hundred bees.
They often build nests:
Underground in abandoned rodent burrows
Under sheds or decks
In tall grasses
Compost piles
Rock walls
Behavior
Bumble bees are generally calm and focused on flowers. They usually ignore people unless their nest is disturbed or they are handled.
Unlike honey bees, female bumble bees can sting more than once because their stinger is smooth.
What They Eat
Nectar
Pollen
Why They're Important
Bumble bees are incredible pollinators. They perform something called buzz pollination, vibrating certain flowers to release pollen. Crops like tomatoes, peppers, blueberries, cranberries, and eggplants benefit greatly from this special ability.
Wasps
There are thousands of wasp species, and most are actually beneficial insects. Many hunt garden pests that damage plants.
What They Look Like
Smooth, shiny body
Narrow waist
Long legs
Yellow, black, brown, or reddish coloring
Little to no body hair
Where They Live
Depending on the species, wasps build:
Paper nests
Under roof eaves
Porch ceilings
Trees
Shrubs
Sheds
Underground
Behavior
Most wasps are not interested in people unless you're close to their nest. They spend much of their day hunting insects or gathering food.
Female wasps can sting multiple times.
What They Eat
Caterpillars
Flies
Other insects
Nectar
Sweet foods
Why They're Important
Wasps help naturally control insect populations, making them valuable allies for gardens and farms.
Hornets
Hornets are actually one type of wasp, but they're much larger and build impressive paper nests.
What They Look Like
Large, thick body
Smooth with very little hair
Black and white or brown and yellow depending on the species
Broader than most wasps
Where They Live
Hornets build large gray paper nests that often resemble footballs.
These nests are commonly found:
Hanging from trees
Large shrubs
Utility poles
Buildings
Some nests may contain hundreds of hornets by late summer.
Behavior
Hornets generally ignore people unless someone approaches their nest too closely. Like other social wasps, they will aggressively defend their colony.
They can sting multiple times.
What They Eat
Flying insects
Caterpillars
Nectar
Tree sap
Yellow Jackets
Yellow jackets are probably the insects most often mistaken for honey bees.
What They Look Like
Bright yellow and black
Smooth, shiny body
Thin waist
Very little body hair
Smaller and sleeker than honey bees
Where They Live
Yellow jackets often build nests:
Underground
Inside old rodent burrows
Wall voids
Attics
Occasionally shrubs
Colonies may grow to several thousand workers by the end of summer.
Behavior
Yellow jackets are known for being more defensive than honey bees. They're especially attracted to:
Picnics
Fruit
Soda
Barbecues
Garbage cans
They can sting repeatedly.
What They Eat
Insects
Meat
Fruit
Sugary foods and drinks
Mud Daubbers
Mud daubbers may look intimidating, but they are among the gentlest wasps you'll find.
What They Look Like
Very long, thin waist
Slender body
Usually black or metallic blue
Some species have yellow markings
Long legs that dangle while flying
Where They Live
Rather than building paper nests, mud daubbers build tube-shaped nests made from mud.
These are commonly found:
Under porch roofs
Garages
Barns
Sheds
Eaves
Each mud tube contains chambers for developing young.
Behavior
Mud daubbers are extremely non-aggressive and rarely sting unless handled.
What They Eat
Adults feed on nectar, while females hunt spiders to place inside their mud nests as food for their young.
Why They're Important
Mud daubbers help keep spider populations under control and are considered beneficial insects.
What About the "Murder Hornet"?
You may remember hearing about the Asian giant hornet—sometimes called the "murder hornet"—in news stories a few years ago. The nickname grabbed headlines, but the reality is much less alarming for most people.
Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia) are native to parts of Asia and are not established in the United States. A small number were detected in Washington State beginning in 2019, but after an extensive eradication effort, officials declared the species eradicated from the United States in 2024.
While these hornets can pose a serious threat to honey bee colonies if they become established, they are not something New York residents should expect to encounter. If you see a large stinging insect in your yard, it's far more likely to be a native hornet, wasp, or bumble bee than an Asian giant hornet.
As always, if you're unsure what you've found, observe it from a safe distance, snap a photo if you can, and contact your local Cooperative Extension office or state agricultural agency for identification rather than trying to remove it yourself.
Quick Identification Guide
Insect | Fuzzy? | Typical Home | Can Sting More Than Once? | Main Food |
Honey Bee | ✅ Yes | Wax hive | ❌ No | Nectar & pollen |
Bumble Bee | ✅ Very | Underground nest | ✅ Yes | Nectar & pollen |
Wasp | ❌ No | Paper nest | ✅ Yes | Insects & nectar |
Hornet | ❌ No | Large paper nest | ✅ Yes | Insects & nectar |
Yellow Jacket | ❌ No | Underground or wall nest | ✅ Yes | Meat, insects & sweets |
Mud Daubber | ❌ No | Mud tubes | Rarely | Nectar & spiders |
Here's a Quick Indentification Guide to download, print and hang.
A Few Helpful Tips for Identifying Stinging Insects
If it's fuzzy and carrying pollen from flower to flower, it's likely a honey bee or bumble bee.
If it's smooth, shiny, and has a very narrow waist, it's probably a wasp, hornet, yellow jacket, or mud daubber.
If it's hanging around your picnic or soda can, chances are it's a yellow jacket.
If you find neat tubes made of mud under your porch, you've probably discovered mud daubbers.
If you see a large gray paper nest hanging from a tree, it's most likely a hornet nest.
If you spot thousands of bees entering and leaving a wax hive, you're looking at a honey bee colony.
"FUZZY BEE, NICE TO ME. SMOOTH ONE, BETTER RUN!" FINGERLAKES HONEY COMPANY
Need Help With a Swarm or Hive?
Not every buzzing insect needs to be removed—but if you've discovered what you believe is a honey bee swarm or an established honey bee hive on your property, we're here to help you explore your options.
At Fingerlakes Honey Company, we offer:
Consultations – Not sure what you've found? Send us a photo, ask your questions, and we'll help you identify the insect and discuss the best course of action.
Swarm Removal – If a honey bee swarm has settled on your outdoor property, we may be able to safely remove and relocate it, depending on the location and accessibility.
Outbuilding Hive Removal – If honey bees have established a colony in a shed, barn, or other outbuilding, we may be able to remove them under certain circumstances.
If you're dealing with a swarm or hive and you're outside our service area, we encourage you to contact your local beekeeping organization for assistance. Many local beekeepers are happy to help relocate honey bees whenever possible.
Remember: Honey bees are valuable pollinators, and in many cases, they can be safely relocated rather than exterminated. If you're unsure what you've found, don't panic—reach out to a knowledgeable beekeeper before taking action.
Appreciating Nature's Different Roles
Although many people fear anything that buzzes, each of these insects serves an important purpose.
Honey bees and bumble bees are incredible pollinators that help produce many of the foods we eat and the flowers we enjoy. Wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and mud daubbers help keep insect populations in balance by hunting pests that damage gardens and crops.
Understanding the differences between these insects can help us respond appropriately instead of reacting out of fear. Most aren't looking to sting people—they're simply busy doing the jobs nature designed them to do.
The next time you notice a buzzing visitor in your yard, take a closer look (from a safe distance). You may be surprised to discover just how fascinating these incredible insects really are.
Help Spread the Buzz!
The more we understand these incredible insects, the better we can protect our pollinators while respecting the important role all stinging insects play in nature.
If you found this guide helpful, please share it with your friends and family. You never know—you might help someone recognize the difference between a honey bee and a yellow jacket before they swat first and ask questions later!
Have a question about an insect you've seen? Leave us a comment below. We love helping people learn more about the fascinating world of bees and other beneficial insects.
Until Next Time- Stay Sweet!
Tom and Stacie
Tom and Stacie, are co-owners of Fingerlakes Honey Company located in the bee-utiful Finger Lakes region of New York State. When they are not tending to all things bees, they enjoy spending time with their grown children, their dog, and lots of chickens on their homestead. They love learning more about the bees they foster and helping others to learn more about them as well.
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