Is It a Bee or a Wasp Nest? Here’s How to Instantly Tell the Difference!

When you discover a buzzing nest near your home, the first question you may ask is, "Is this a bee or a wasp nest?" Knowing the differences is key to how they will be managed and who will deal with them. Although bees and wasps may seem similar, they have distinct behaviours, appearances, and nest structures that can help you easily identify them. Let's break down how to tell the difference between a honey bee nest and a wasp nest.

1. Insect Numbers: Bees vs. Wasps

The quickest way to tell if you're dealing with a honey bee or wasp nest is by observing the number of insects. Honey bee colonies are much larger than wasp colonies, often containing thousands of bees. A typical honey bee colony can host anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 bees, especially in the summer months.

In contrast, wasp nests are much smaller, usually housing a few hundred individuals at their peak, typically around 100 to 1000 wasps. Even in late summer, when wasps are most active, their nests never reach the overwhelming size of a bee colony. If you discover a nest of flying insects with a large amount of activity, it's likely a honey bee nest.

2. Activity Around the Nest Entrance

Another way to distinguish between a bee and a wasp nest is by observing the activity at the entrance. Honey bees are incredibly busy insects. You'll often notice 10 to 50 bees queuing up at the nest entrance at any given time. They work in a steady, constant flow, especially when collecting nectar and pollen during warmer months.

On the other hand, wasps tend to have much less activity at their nest entrance. Typically, you'll only see one or two wasps coming and going at any time. Even at the height of summer, when a wasp nest is more active, it still won't compare to the constant stream of bees entering and exiting their hive.

Late Summer Exception

It's important to note that wasp nests can become busier in late summer. At this time, their population peaks, and they may appear more active. However, even during this time, the number of wasps around the nest is significantly lower compared to a honey bee colony.

3. Physical Appearance: Bee vs. Wasp

While bees and wasps are often confused due to their similar size and shape, there are key differences in their appearance:

• Honey Bees: Generally brown with faint striping, honey bees appear fuzzier due to the fine hairs covering their bodies, which help them collect pollen.
• Wasps: Typically more streamlined, black and yellow, and have smooth bodies. Wasps are often mistaken for bees due to their similar colouration but have a more defined, sharp appearance.

Bumblebee Confusion

Many people also confuse bumblebees with wasps due to their similar black and yellow stripes. However, bumblebees are much larger and fluffier than both wasps and honey bees. Their size and round, soft appearance make them easy to distinguish once you know what to look for.

4. Flight Behavior: Leg Position

For those with a keen eye, it's possible to differentiate between bees and wasps based on their flight behaviour :

• Honey Bees: Honey bees have long back legs, which can often be seen hanging down when they fly. Their flight is also slightly slower and more deliberate as they carry pollen and nectar back to the nest. (yellow pollen visible on back legs)
• Wasps: Wasps are much more streamlined in flight. They tend to tuck their legs under their body, making their movement more agile and swift. Wasps are often seen darting around quickly, in contrast to the steadier pace of honey bees.

However, this distinction can be difficult for the untrained eye, and it's generally easier to focus on the number of insects and activity around the nest to identify what you're dealing with.

5. Nest Structure: Honeycomb vs. Paper

The structure of the nest itself is a significant clue in telling apart a bee nest from a wasp nest:

• Honey Bee Nests: Honey bees create honeycomb structures made from beeswax. These open combs contain hexagonal cells where bees store honey and raise their young. Bee nests are not typically shrouded or covered by an outer layer like wasp nests. You're looking at a bee nest if you can see an open honeycomb.
• Wasp Nests: Wasps build their nests using a paper-like material made from chewed wood fibers. Wasps collect dead wood and mix it with their saliva to create a strong, lightweight paper. These nests are often enclosed in a papery shell. The texture of a wasp nest is often rougher and visibly paper-like.

Where They Build Nests

- Honey Bees require large spaces for their expansive colonies, which is why they often build nests in hollow trees, walls, or even inside chimneys. In fact, if you have a nest of flying insects in your chimney, there's a 99.9% chance it's a honey bee colony.

- Wasps tend to build their nests in more exposed areas like trees, eaves, or attics. Their nests can also be found hanging from branches or other sheltered spots.

6. Swarming: A Bee Trait

An important thing to remember is that only honey bees swarm. Swarming is a natural part of the bee colony's reproduction process, where a large group of bees, including the original queen, leaves the nest to form a new colony. This behaviour is unique to honey bees and does not occur with wasps.

If you see a large cluster of flying insects moving together in a swirling mass, it's almost certainly a bee swarm. Wasps do not swarm, which makes this a key identifier.

Conclusion: How to Instantly Tell if It's a Bee or Wasp Nest

When trying to distinguish between a bee and a wasp nest, focus on the number of insects, activity at the entrance, and the structure of the nest itself if visible. Honey bee colonies will always have more insects, more activity around the entrance, and feature honeycomb structures made of beeswax. On the other hand, wasps have fewer members, less visible activity, and construct paper-like nests from chewed wood.

By keeping these details in mind, you'll be able to instantly tell the difference and take the appropriate steps for dealing with either a bee or wasp nest safely.