Social wasps, on the other hand, refer to types of wasps that live in colonies. Wasps from the Chrysididae, Tiphiidae, Scoliidae, and Mutillidae families belong to this group. Instead, they prey on other insects by themselves. Solitary wasps are usually parasitic, and they do not build colonies. Like humans, some types of wasps prefer to be alone. There are thousands of different types of wasps, but you can group them into two major categories: solitary wasps and social wasps. Read also: 50 Platypus Facts About The World Strangest Mammals How many types of wasps are there? That way, you can treat your sting right away and attend to your wound faster. When a wasp stings you, it is probably a good idea to leave the area right away. Some types of wasps also release pheromones that alert other wasps to attack. When this happens, it’s important to seek medical care immediately. Some symptoms of anaphylaxis include burning skin, swollen mouth, chest pains or tightness, and difficulty breathing. The worst-case scenario is anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening. Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe. However, some people can be allergic to wasp venom. Cleaning the area, using an ice pack in case of swelling, and drinking pain relievers should be sufficient. In most cases, administering first aid is enough to treat a wasp sting. But just how dangerous can wasps be?Ī single wasp sting that is treated right away is hardly a cause for concern. Seeing as how they can sting you several times in a row, it’s clear wasps can be dangerous. On the other hand, wasps can sting you several times. When this happens, bees leave their stingers behind in your skin. While both insects can sting you, bees can only sting once. Wasps also appear slimmer than bees because of their “wasp waist”. Bees are also “hairy”, while wasps appear bald and shiny. While bees have brownish-yellow stripes, wasps have distinct yellow and black stripes. They have similar shapes, and they both have stingers. For one, they are both insects belonging to the same suborder. Bees vs Wasps: What’s the difference?Ĭontrary to popular belief, wasps are not bees, and bees are not wasps either. Many people, including experts, often confuse wasps for bees and vice versa. Before calling them, however, it’s important to be sure that they actually are wasps. If the wasps in your backyard are becoming a problem, you might need to call pest control. This can certainly make picnics and outdoor dining a hassle for some. Wasps are also attracted to meat and sweet food. Wasps can be your best friend when it comes to keeping pests out of your garden. However, wasps also eat caterpillars, which affects the process of butterflies pollinating your flowers. As predators, wasps feed on lots of insect pests, such as flies, aphids, and grubs.

Wasps play an important role in the ecosystem.

A wasp is a narrow-waisted insect from the order Hymenoptera and the suborder Apocrita suborder. Probably a 'matter of thyme' before it nailed a fly.Before listing down the different types of wasps, it’s important to first define what a wasp is. This one (below) seemed to be sipping nectar (adults feed on nectar). Its abdomen looks something like a basketball referee: except instead of black and white stripes, it sports curvy black and white stripes.īug Guide indicates that North America is home to 19 species of sand wasps. The sand wasp digs its nest holes in the sand, thus its name. It preys upon flies, hover flies (aka flower flies or syrphids), tachinid flies, lacewings, and other critters, taking the carcasses back to its ground nest to feed its larvae. 'These wasps fly very rapidly and frequently visit flowers,' Thorp said.īeing a wasp, it's a predator and a carnivore, not a vegetarian like the honey bee. Native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, identified it as a sand wasp, genus Bembix, probably B. 'Little white bees.' That's what nursery personnel and visitors called them. Last weekend we visited a Fort Bragg nursery specializing in succulents, and these 'little white bees' were all over the red flowering thyme (Thymus serphyllum). If it looks like a bee, sips nectar like a bee, and buzzes away like a bee, that doesn't mean it's a bee.

Black wasp with white stripes