Hornets vs. Bees vs. Wasps: What’s the Difference?

You may use the terms interchangeably, but there are many major differences between hornets vs. bees vs. wasps. Any of these insects may sting when provoked, but these critters vary in their scientific classifications, appearances, and diets. Before you try to handle a swarm of buzzing insects in your yard, follow this handy guide to identify the pest.

What Are the Differences Between Hornets, Bees, and Wasps?

Hornets vs. Bees vs. Wasps: Differences in Appearance

With several types of hornets and thousands of types of wasps and bee species, telling the difference between hornets vs. bees vs. wasps can be tricky. Some species are bound to resemble one another. But there are some common characteristics to inspect.

Hornets Size and Appearance

Though hornets come in all sizes, they can grow to be fairly large when compared to a wasp or a bee. It can be tricky to tell a hornet from a wasp, as they have similar features, but hornets tend to have a wider waist than wasps.

• Size: Hornets may range from ¾ to 2 inches or more.

• Color: They can have a range of colors from yellow to orange and red, or black and white. You may want to research what local hornets look like.

• Shape: Of the three species, hornets can be the largest and widest. They are not as narrow in appearance as a wasp.

• Texture: A hornet’s body is very smooth with only a little bit of fuzz on the abdomen.

Bees Size and Appearance 

Bees are the smallest of the species, and they can be very tiny.

• Size:  Bees tend to range from around 0.08 to 1½ inches long.

• Color: Bees are yellow and black or orange and black.

• Shape: Unlike wasps and hornets, bees tend to be rounder and don’t have a slim waist.

• Texture: Bees are usually fuzzy, with hair-like filaments, called plumose, on their bodies. These “hairs” collect pollen when the bee goes into a plant to feed. 

Wasps Size and Appearance 

Wasps can come in all different shapes and sizes, but bees are usually smaller than wasps, and many types of wasps are smaller than hornets.

• Size: Wasps range in size from ⅓ to 1 inch long.

• Color: These insects have bright colors, like yellow or red, alternating with bands of black around their body.

• Shape: Wasps have a tiny waist and are much more slender than a bee. Of the three species, wasps will have the tiniest waist and appear the most slender.

• Texture: Wasps won’t have a fuzzy texture, but like a hornet, they may have some plumose on their abdomen.

Diet Differences

Check out how these insects differ in their diets.

Hornets

Hornets are predators that hunt and eat other insects, including bees and wasps, but also crickets, caterpillars, flies, and grasshoppers. They tend to feed on live prey, and don’t scavenge like wasps.

Bees 

Bees eat nectar and pollen from flowers, and will eat bee bread, or fermented pollen. They don’t feed on other insects. 

Wasps

Wasps are a very diverse group of eaters, depending on the species. Wasps may act like hornets, and prey on crickets and caterpillars, and even spiders, but usually this is to feed the kill to their larvae. Adult wasps will eat nectar, much like a bee.  

Habitat Differences

Examine the places these pests hang out, plus how they behave.

Hornets

Many hornets live in nests attached to trees or bushes, typically several feet off the ground, though sometimes they’ll build nests on the sides of office buildings or homes. A hornet’s nest is made of wood pulp, which makes them look made of paper. 

Bees 

Honey bee nests are built inside of a hollow tree. Carpenter bees bore into wood or shelter in wooden structures. Bumble bees tend to nest underground. 

Wasps

Wasps nests vary greatly depending on the location. Depending on where you live, you may need to research how local species of wasps build their nests. One easily identifiable wasp nest are the homes of mud wasps, which may look like a small tube of clay. Mud wasps are solitary, so there will only be one hole in the nest. Other wasps, like the paper wasp, build colonies, and may have a large paper-like structure with open-facing hexagonal cells. 

Illness & Disease Impacts

While these household pests don’t carry diseases like ticks, their stings can still pose a health risk, especially if you’re allergic to the sting. Seek medical treatment if you have prolonged symptoms, trouble breathing, or an allergic reaction or infection.

Hornets

Many hornet stings are mild. Hornets may be able to sting multiple times, though. Hornets do not leave behind their stingers like bees, but their stings can cause allergic reactions. If you are stung, make sure to clean the area with soap and water, and try a cold compress to reduce swelling.

Bees

If you are stung by a bee, there is a good chance that the stinger is left behind. You should try to remove the stinger as quickly as possible, as the longer it’s left within the skin it may put more venom into the body. 

Wasps

Like hornets, wasps do not leave their stingers behind in the skin. A wasp sting will often feel itchy, and will leave a welt and some swelling around the location of the sting. Usually, pain from wasp stings only lasts a few hours.

Extermination Differences

Follow these guidelines for removing hornets, bees, and wasps from your home.

Hornet Removal

Hornet removal is best handled by a professional wasp control company, as hornets are a type of wasp. These insects can be territorial and aggressive if you get too close to the hornets or their nests. Professional hornet removal can range from $100 to $1,300, but most services cost around $375.

Bee Removal 

Bees can be helpful to the environment, but if you have a misplaced colony or a swarm of bees that tend to sting the kids as they are outside playing, you may want to consider bee removal. A professional can come and safely remove and relocate the hive. Because bees often live in large colonies with thousands of insects per hive, bee removal costs $75 to $2,000.

Wasp Removal

If you need to get rid of wasps on your property, hiring an insect control company near you is the safest option. Wasps can be especially defensive if you get near their nests, and most wasps have a pretty painful sting. Wasp removal costs about $375 on average.

Prevention Differences

No matter which insect you are trying to keep away from your patio, there are some slight differences in how to prevent hornets vs. bees vs. wasps.

Hornet Prevention

To keep hornets away from your home, you’ll want to keep your yard free of trash and clutter. This even means removing rotting fruit from around fruiting trees and keeping garbage bins closed. You can also set up a fake hornet nest near your home to deter these territorial pests.

Bee Prevention

The biggest difference with bee prevention is that many people actually try to attract bees to their yards, because they are important pollinators. However, if you want to deter bees, you can plant things like thyme, mint, lavender, lemongrass or citronella.

Wasp Prevention

Like hornets, you can hang decoy nests to deter wasps. Because some types of wasps may burrow in the ground or nest in cracks and crevices around your home, you can also deter them by filling holes in the lawn and sealing gaps around the outside of the house. Make sure to keep trash cleaned up and trash or compost bins sealed to avoid attracting wasps.