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Difference Between Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets

May 18, 2018 Posted by Dr.Samanthi

The key difference between honey bees and yellow jackets is that honey bees can sting only once while yellow jackets can sting multiple times without losing their life.

Honey bees and yellow jackets are two insect groups of the phylum Arthropoda. Yellow jackets belong to the genus Vespula while honey bees belong to genus Apis. Honey bees are nectar collectors and produce honey. Yellow jackets feed on insects and are beneficial predators.Difference Between Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets - Comparison Summary

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Honey Bees 
3. What are Yellow Jackets
4. Similarities Between Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets
5. Side by Side Comparison – Honey Bees vs Yellow Jackets in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What are Honey Bees?

Honey bees are members of the genus Apis. They produce and store honey. They also construct a colonial nest from beeswax. Furthermore, these bees are popular nectar collectors. They are participants of cross pollination in flowers since they feed on pollen.

Difference Between Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets

Figure 01: Honey Bee

Unlike yellow jackets, honey bees are gentle. In general, honey bees do not sting.  However, they can sting when they are stepped on or swatted. They die after just one swing. Moreover, they don’t chase for a long distance. They defend the immediate area of the nest.

Who are Yellow Jackets?

Yellow jackets are a kind of wasps of the genus Vespula. ‘Yellow Jackets’ is just a common name used to refer to these predatory social wasps. They are visible in two colours: black and yellow. In fact, their bodies have yellow and black bands. Their bodies are skinny and shiny as well. These wasps are aggressive insects which always aim to sting. They can sting multiple times without losing their life, unlike honey bees.

Key Difference - Honey Bees vs Yellow Jackets

Figure 02: Yellow Jacket

Yellow jackets also have the ability to chase threats for a longer distance. They are not beneficial as pollinators. However, they work as beneficial predators of pest insects. They feed on other insects such as caterpillars, spiders, etc.

What are the Similarities Between Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets?

  • Honey bees and yellow jackets are two groups of phylum Arthropoda.
  • They can sting.
  • Both posses colour bands in their bodies.

What is the Difference Between Honey Bees and Yellow Jackets?

Honey Bees vs Yellow Jackets

Honey Bees are the members of the genus Apis that are popular as honey makers. Yellow Jackets are a type of wasps that belong to the genus Vespula.
Color Pattern
Brown and black banded pattern in the body Yellow and black banded pattern in the body
Sting
Sting only once Sting multiple times
Food
Depend on nectar and pollen from flowers Feed on insects
Behavior
Defend the immediate area of the nest Can chase people for a long distance
Aggressiveness 
Relatively gentle More aggressive
Nesting
Nest mostly in tree trunk cavities Often nest in underground holes
Appearance
Fatter and appear hairy Skinny, shiny and no noticeable hairs
Role
Beneficial pollinators Beneficial pest-insects predators

Summary – Honey Bees vs Yellow Jackets

Honey bees and yellow jackets are two genera of phylum Arthropoda. Honey bees are important as pollinators and produce honey. They do not harm others unless they are stepped or swatted. They sting once and then die. In comparison, yellow jackets are a kind of wasps that feed on insects. Hence they are beneficial predators. They do not die after they sting. They are also able to sting multiple times. This is the difference between honey bees and yellow jackets.

Reference:

1.“All About Yellow Jackets, Bees, Wasps & Hornets | Gardener’s Supply.” Gardeners Supply, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Honey Bee on Willow Catkin (5419305106)” By Bob Peterson from North Palm Beach, Florida, Planet Earth! – Honey Bee on Willow CatkinUploaded by Jacopo Werther (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “How To Safely Photograph a Southern Yellowjacket” by Bob Peterson (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Related posts:

Difference Between Bee and Fly Difference Between Bug and Insects Difference Between Lice and Fleas Difference Between Bed Bugs and Fleas Difference Between Male and Female Crickets

Filed Under: Insects

About the Author: Dr.Samanthi

Dr.Samanthi Udayangani holds a B.Sc. Degree in Plant Science, M.Sc. in Molecular and Applied Microbiology, and PhD in Applied Microbiology. Her research interests include Bio-fertilizers, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Molecular Microbiology, Soil Fungi, and Fungal Ecology.

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