There are many species of bees and wasps in Massachusetts, and they come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Wasps are also mistaken for bees, where bees are covered with tiny hairs and wasps are not, wasps are shinier in comparison. Bees are classified as insects and are closely related to ants and wasps. Wasps and bees are all capable of stinging people, but there are some very noticeable differences between the two. Wasps are close cousins to bees, but are also a separate and distinct species all their own. Wasps are beneficial creatures, offering some of the same benefits of bees: pollination. If you need help identifying your bee, see our information on different types of bees. Adult wasps feed on sugars in ripened fruits while paper wasps feed on nectars. They are different in appearance and temperament than bees. So, in scientific terms, they’re close relatives, but they’re not the same. Note: Please understand that that insects do not adhere to man-drawn borders on a map as such they may be found beyond the general "reach" as … Bees, Ants, Wasps and Similar Insects of Vermont Showcase listing of Bees, Ants, Wasps and Similar Insects found in the state of Vermont. That was a long time ago and sense then many other types of honey bees have been brought in. Wasps, hornets and bees present an all-together different challenge for homeowners. Bees use pollen to make and eat honey, while wasps are carnivores. Wasps can be hard to distinguish from some types of bees in some cases. Wasp nests are constructed either above or below ground. Population under threat from varroa mite. However, a person sensitive to one kind of wasp will often be sensitive to other kinds of wasps. There are many different types of bees and wasps. Yellowjackets (including hornets) and paper wasps are the most common types of wasps encountered in Washington. Most wasps prey … Types of Bees & Wasps in Massachusetts. Some wasps might have colorations that are very similar to some bees, but other species resemble ants more closely. All have mixed together and now it is very difficult to impossible to actually have a pure bred bee of any kind. The most common types of wasps are hornets, yellowjackets, and paper wasps. Most of the types of wasps are social in North America, but there are some solitary and predatory wasps. If you are attempting to identify a wasp or hornet, have a look at below list of 22 types of wasps and hornets. The general commonality between these three groups of wasps is they all are predators or parasites of other insects and spiders or are opportunistic, omnivorous feeders known as scavengers. Their means of pollination, however, are slightly different than the bees’. A colony size can often be greater than 30,000 individual honey bees. Sometimes known as stingless honey bees, this large group of bees is closely related to other types of bees such as honey bees, orchid bees, carpenter bees, and bumblebees. Bees and wasps belong to the same suborder, Apocrita, which is characterized by a common narrow waist. Bees on the other hand are "plumper" than wasps. Though they have some similarities, wasps and bees are distinctively different insects. However, look closely and you'll see that the abdomen and thorax of a bee is more round, whereas a wasp has a more cylindrical body. A honey bee swarm will arrive in flight and cluster on a tree branch. The thing is wasps do serve a purpose, they are different than bees and there are several types of wasps throughout the world. Paper wasps are long with yellow and rusty brown or black stripes. Bees are furry and wasps are not. He is fully licensed, bonded and insured.