Which is More Aggressive – Bees or Wasps?

Many people fear bees and wasps. The mere sight of them often causes individuals to flee. This fear is well-founded. Although bees and wasps play an important part in our ecosystem, they are also responsible for those dreaded stings that send many people to the emergency room every year.

But these stings are often caused by lack of knowledge and understanding of these insects. For instance, many people can’t tell them apart, and while some may be able to differentiate between them, they assume that they are all equally dangerous. Call our expert wasp removal Toronto services.

Although both bees and wasps belong to the same order of insects (Hymenoptera) they have a number of distinct characteristics and habits and their aggression is triggered by different reasons. In order to discuss which is more dangerous to us, let’s first understand some of the fundamental differences between these two species of insects.

The Differences Between Bees and Wasps

1. Physical differences

Bees are generally around 2.54 cm in length with plumper abdomens. There are also variations in colors as some are brown or black, with accompanying yellow or orange strips, while other bees are entirely black. Bees also tend to have hairy bodies and legs.

Wasps, on the other hand, normally have smooth skin and thinner waists, while being much longer than bees. Their bodies may also have many different colors, depending on the type of wasp it is.

2. Differences in colonies

Bee colonies are commonly bigger than wasps. In pinnacle season, a bee settlement can achieve well more than 75,000. Bees are notable for their commitment to pollination. They gather dust and taste on nectar. They are additionally known to produce honey and beeswax. 

Wasps can either be solitary or social. The social wasp colonies are still not bigger than bees’ as in peak season, they can be less than 10,000.

Which is More Aggressive?

Now that you understand some of the differences between these insects, let’s discuss which is more aggressive.

Bees are bound to attack when they’re incited or feel that their home is being threatened. In this circumstance, they use their stingers. Most people have heard that after bees sting you, they die. Well, not all bees. It actually depends on the type of bee. Bumblebees die after stinging you, while honeybees don’t always. What often may kill the honeybee is the pressure of releasing the stinger. 

Wasps can be considered much more aggressive than bees. This is because they are able to sting multiple times, while bees can only sting once. Wasps are also predatory. They feed on other insects, such as flies and caterpillars, while bees often don’t prey on other insects. What makes wasps even more aggressive is that they attack in numbers. If a wasp feels that their nest is under threat, they release pheromones. This alerts the colony that there’s a danger, and then they all come to assist in the attack.

It’s important to note that although both wasps and bees can put your life in danger by their stings, they usually don’t go out their way to attack people. Their attacks come when they feel that their lives or nests are being threatened.

This is why it’s essential that as soon as you suspect an infestation of any kind, bee or wasp, to take the necessary measures, such as calling our pest control Toronto company to safely remove the insects from your property before any harm can be inflicted upon you or your loved ones.

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