Wasps and bees share a similar appearance, but they behave very differently. Learning the distinctions can spare you the agony of a painful experience and improve your ability to communicate with pest control professionals. The primary distinctions between bees and wasps, as described by professionals who specialize in bee pest control in Toronto, are the insects' respective colors, sizes, nesting structures, and stingers.
Colour
Because of their nearly identical coloring, wasps and bees are frequently confused with one another at first glance. Both have a black and yellow coloring, but the patterns and overall body texture are quite different.
Yellow jackets and paper wasps, which are two of the most common types, have yellow and black stripes or spots, giving them the appearance of carpenter bees, as are pointed out by professionals in the field of residential pest control. Their yellow legs, on the other hand, serve as a glaring red flag that this is not a honey producer.
The legs of honey bees and carpenter bees are black in color. Carpenter bees can have yellow and black stripes or be completely black, in contrast to their honey bee relatives, which have the more traditional pattern of yellow and black stripes. Both have rounded thoraces and abdomens, which contribute to their overall round and chubby appearance. On the other hand, carpenter species have bodies that are smooth, whereas honeybees have very fine hairs that are ideal for collecting pollen.
Wasps appear to be more slender than bees, and the thoraxes of their abdomens gradually taper into the body. The size of their abdomens may exceed that of their thoraxes, and they never have any hair on their bodies.
Size
If you can identify the species of an insect based on its color, you are probably looking at it too closely. A more accurate estimation of size can be made from a greater distance. Although there is only a slight morphological distinction between honeybees and wasps, there is enough of a difference for professional exterminators to be able to identify the offending insect from just a brief description.
Wasps are typically three-quarters of an inch long and have a diameter that is roughly equivalent to that of a nickel. Bees are considerably smaller, measuring only a half an inch in length, which is roughly comparable to the diameter of the plastic cap on a thumbtack.
Stingers
Wasps and bees both have stingers, but you should get medical help if you are aware of the difference between the two types of stingers. It is essential to be aware of the distinctions between the two, the most obvious of which is the number of times a single insect is capable of stinging.
Because the stinger breaks off and becomes lodged in the victim's skin, a single bee is only capable of inflicting a single sting. Wasps, on the other hand, do not shed their stingers, which gives them the ability to sting their victims multiple times.
Wasps are more territorial and aggressive than bees, which makes them more likely to sting when threatened. Bees, on the other hand, will only use their stingers in self-defense situations in which there is no way to escape or hide. Because the loss of a bee's stinger results in the bee's death, members of this species are just as reluctant to sting as people are to be stung.
Both wasp and bee stings are extremely painful, but most cases can be treated successfully at home. Use a credit card, a knife, or another object with a straight edge to scrape the stringer away from bee stings. Because the venom sac is attached to the stinger and will continue to pump venom into the site until it is removed, this step is essential.
Wasp and bee stings require the same course of treatment: a gentle washing with soap and water. The affected region will be red and swollen, but the following measures can help to reduce the swelling:
Antihistamines
Painkillers available without a prescription
compression with ice
In the event that you experience an allergic reaction, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible because being stung can be fatal.
Nests Taking a look at the nests can be the quickest and most reliable way to figure out what kind of stinging insect is causing you trouble, whether it's a bee or a wasp. Wasp nests have a papery texture and an appearance similar to that of umbrellas. Wasp colonies typically have fewer than 200 members and are referred to by that number.
The hives that bees live in are significantly larger, and they typically house tens of thousands of bees. The bees continually add hexagonal cells to the hive, which may contain pollen, honey, or larvae. Because of this, the hive does not have a specific shape.
Services for the Control of Pests in Toronto
Truly Nolen is the company to call when you require pest control in Toronto for wasps. Wasps and bees are no match for the expertise of our exterminators. In order to ensure that insects do not return to the area, we treat it and also remove any nests that may be present. You can give us a call or make an appointment through our website if you would like more information.