Wasps and honey bees are beneficial insects, although they are generally considered to be pests because of their ability to sting. Wasps, in particular, can become a problem in autumn when they may disrupt many outdoor activities. People often mistakenly call all stinging insects “bees.” While both social wasps and bees live in colonies ruled by queens and maintained by workers, they look and behave differently. It is important to distinguish between these insects because different methods may be necessary to control them if they become a nuisance.

Wasps have a slender body with a narrow waist, slender, cylindrical legs, and appear smoothed-skinned and shiny. Bees are robust-bodied and very hairy compared with wasps. Their hind legs are flattened for collecting and transporting pollen. Bees are important pollinators. Honey bees are responsible for more than 80% of the pollination required by most fruits, legumes, and vegetable seed plants as well as many ornamentals that are grown in our landscapes.

Nests are often found under steps, in cracks, foundation of building, bushes and trees, soffits, eaves troughs, and even in the ground.

Wasps and bees sting to defend themselves or their colony. Stinging involves the injection of protein venom that causes pain and other reactions. Wasps and bumblebees can sting more than once because they are able to pull out their stinger without injury to themselves. If you are stung by a wasp or bumblebee, the stinger is not left in your skin. Most people have only local reactions to wasp and bee stings, although a few may experience more serious allergic reactions.

Treatment of wasp and bees nests can be done by injecting an insecticide spray or dust into the entrance of the nest. As the wasps and bees move in and out of the nest, move around the nest and clean them, they spread the insecticide throughout the nest and kill off all the inhabitants. The area around the nest should be avoided for an hour or two after treatment as the wasps and bees will be agitated and angry and likely to sting. In order to be treated, the entrance to the nest needs to be obvious, it needs to be unblocked so that the wasps can pick up the dust, and the weather needs to be warm and dry so that the wasps are active and moving around so that they will spread the dust around. Usually one treatment is all that is needed, but if wasps and bees are still active 48 to 72 hours later, then a second treatment is required.