How to ID and Tell the Difference

We updated this article in June 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

Well, it’s about that time: prime season for winged insects to peruse flowers and backyard barbecues, throwing quite the wrench into our favorite outdoor activities. Unfortunately, some of these flying insects sting too, making the odds of encountering a bee, wasp, or hornet pretty high during the warmer seasons.

But despite the fact that they are all capable of stinging you, bees, wasps, and hornets are actually pretty different. In a perfect world, you’d go through life never having to interact with one. You can spray all the insect repellant you can stand, but in reality, you’re probably going to have to cross paths with one or even all of these pests. So, it might be useful to know what you’re up against when you do encounter one of these flying critters by learning exactly who’s who.

Here’s how to tell bees, wasps, and hornets apart—from their looks to their habitat to their stinging power—so you know what you’re dealing with if and when you happen to spot one.

Bees

You probably know a bee when you see one. But when it’s stacked up against a hornet or wasp, it can be a little tougher to know what you’re dealing with.

What are the most common bee species in the U.S.?

The most common types of bees you’re likely to stumble across are honey bees, carpenter bees, and bumble bees, says board-certified entomologist Glen Ramsey, senior technical services manager at Orkin. “Another type of bee that may be seen in open areas of yards during the spring are solitary, ground-nesting bees,” Ramsey says.

What do bees look like?

“Bumble bees and carpenter bees are robust insects that are rounder in shape and commonly black and yellow in color,” Nancy Troyano, Ph.D., board-certified entomologist and director of operations education and training for Western Exterminator Company. “Honey bees are banded orange-yellow and brown to black in color, but also hairy in appearance.”

Honey bees are likely the most common type of bee you’ll come into contact with, entomologist Roberto M. Pereira, Ph.D., an insect research scientist with the University of Florida. “They look fuzzy,” he says. “They have a lot of hairs covering their body to help them collect pollen.”

Bees usually range in size from a quarter of an inch to up to an inch long, Ramsey says.

Where can you find bees?

It depends on what kind of bee you’re talking about. Honey bees like to build hives in hollow trees, while bumble bees will nest in cavities like abandoned rodent burrows,” Troyano says. “Both can be seen on flowers as they forage for nectar,” she says.

Carpenter bees tend to nest in a “wide variety of wood,” including partially decayed trees or in structural timber that is exposed, Troyano says. They also like wood that has an unpainted surface.

Can bees hurt you?

Most of them can. “Bee stings typically result in immediate pain and localized reaction of mild swelling, redness, and itching at the site of the sting,” Troyano says. “However, for a person with allergies to bee stings, even one sting can be life threatening.”

When a bee stings you, its stinger detaches and continues to pump venom into you until you remove it, which doesn’t feel good, Pereira says. The pain doesn’t last forever, but a sting will usually cause swelling and itching before it all fades.

Worth noting: Honey bees typically die after they sting a person, and ground-nesting bees “are not aggressive,” so the odds of being stung by one are slim, Ramsey says.

Wasps

For the record, wasps and hornets are not the same thing. “A hornet is actually a type of wasp,” Troyano says. “The main difference between hornets and wasps such as paper wasps and yellow jackets is size, with hornets being more robust and larger in size by comparison. Additionally, hornets are social insects whereas wasps can be social or solitary, depending on the species.”

What are the most common wasp species in the U.S.?

Paper wasps and yellow jackets are the most common, Troyano says.

What do wasps look like?

“Most wasps have a narrow or pinched waist and are black or have various markings of white, orange, or yellow,” Ramsey says. (Yellow jackets usually have yellow and black markings, though.) Unlike bees, they don’t have much hair.

Wasps also tend to range in size from a half inch to an inch long, although Troyano points out that yellow jackets tend to be shorter than paper wasps.

Where can you find wasps?

Wasps like to build their nests in spots like eaves, gutters, voids, bushes, branches, and along fences, Ramsey says. Paper wasp nests “look like upside down umbrellas,” while yellow jackets tend to build their nests in the ground, Troyano adds.

Wasps are predators, so they like meat, says Howard Russell, M.S., an entomologist at Michigan State University. “Yellow jackets certainly will forage on meats that are lying around, like hot dogs” he says.

“A lot of times, people get stung because yellow jackets are right around their food when they’re eating outside.”

That means they also gravitate toward crumbs and spills from drinks, Ramsey says. But wasps also like plants and flowers.

Can wasps hurt you?

Yes—and wasps don’t lose their stinger when they attack, so they usually have no problem stinging more than once. “When threatened, paper wasps will sting readily, and can sting you multiple times,” Troyano says.

People tend to get stung when they either get too close to a nest or just happen to stumble into a wasp. “If a wasp is near or on you, and you panic and try to swat it away, it’s going to interpret that as an aggressive act,” Russell says. However, if you gently brush a wasp away from you and walk away, it should leave you alone.

Like bees, if you’re allergic to wasp venom, getting stung by a wasp can trigger a serious allergic reaction.

Hornets

Hornets—which include the freaky Asian giant hornet—tend to be the largest of these stinging insects. Here’s what you need to know about them.

What are the most common hornet species in the U.S.?

The European hornet, a.k.a. the brown hornet or giant hornet, is the main type of hornet in the U.S., Ramsey says. However, he says the bald-faced hornet is also pretty common. (Hornet fun fact: The bald-faced hornet isn’t a ~real~ hornet. Instead, it’s called a hornet “due to its larger size compared to other wasps,” Troyano says.)

What do hornets look like?

European hornets are large and reddish-brown with yellow stripes on their abdomen, Troyano says. Bald-faced hornets, on the other hand, are mostly black with a white pattern on their face, giving them a “bald” look, she says.

Where can you find hornets?

It depends on the type of hornet. European hornets like to make their nests in cavities like hollow trees and barns, Troyano says. But bald-faced hornets tend to nest in more exposed areas, like hanging from tree branches, shrubs, utility poles and eaves, she says.

Can hornets hurt you?

Yes—a lot. “Hornets will readily sting when feeling threatened,” Troyano says. “They can also sting repeatedly.”

That can cause some serious pain and injury, and even life-threatening issues if you’re allergic. “When someone is stung multiple times or is highly allergic to the insect’s venom, there can be systemic reactions that may affect the entire body,” Ramsey says. Most people will experience “intense pain,” redness, and swelling around the site of the sting.

Bottom line: If you spot a stinging winged insect, whether it’s a bee, wasp, or hornet, you probably want to go the other direction. You can try to figure out what it was later.

Hornet nest vs wasp nest

Telling the difference between a hornet nest and a wasp nest can be just as useful as telling the actual critters apart, as their nests are where they hang in and around. It can be especially important if you stumble upon one of these nests located around your home.

Hornet nest

European hornets tend to build their nests in wall or tree cavities and can often be found in attics or sheds as they hide the nests in “dark, hollow places,” according to Orkin. Bald-faced hornets typically build egg-shaped hives that can be up to two feet in length, typically found in trees, large bushes, or the roofs and overhangs of buildings.

Wasp nests

These nests vary in appearance and location. Some wasps build their nests above ground, while some are built below ground, Orkin explains. Above ground nests can likely be found in bushes, the voids of trees and walls, attics and other hidden locations. They can be identified by observing wasps flying in and out of these crevices and are usually made of a paper-like material or mud. Underground nests will be found beneath rocks, fallen logs, patios, driveways, or sidewalks.