Insect Identification Laboratory
Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech

Identification of Bees and Wasps

Select the insect that most closely resembles the bee or wasp you have found. This set only covers the major pests you may have something else. In that case you should contact your county extension agent. He/She is well trained in local insect problems.

Bees and Wasps, eight choices

EUROPEAN HORNET This LARGE hairy wasp has red-brown thorax (middle body section) and its tail section has a pattern similar to a yellow jacket. European hornets often come to porch lights at night they will also chew the bark off of small trees. SWEAT BEE These small bees are often metallic green or blue. They will sting if you try to crush them.
YELLOWJACKETS are medium to large wasps that are yellow (or white) with black markings. They can nest in trees, shrubs, buildings, or most commonly in the ground. BALDFACED HORNET are large wasps that make paper nests in trees. They have a white face and black and white markings on their body similar to yellowjackets.
PAPER WASPS are long slender wasps with long legs that build paper umbrella type nests in protected places on the outside of buildings. HONEY BEES are golden-brown colored and may come from a bee hive or a wild site like a bee tree. When they sting they leave their stinger in the wound, but some yellowjackets will do this as well.
BUMBLE BEES are robust bees that nest in buildings and on the ground. They are yellow and black with a hairy abdomen. CARPENTER BEES are similar to bumble bees but nest in wood and have a shiny abdomen.

Does not fit, GO BACK TO LIST LIST OF ADULT INSECTS

Options:

Return to Start (Main Identification Page)

Return to Insect Identification Laboratory Homepage

Maintained by Eric R. Day, Manager, Insect Identification Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech.

If you have questions or comments about this page, or notice errors, please send us an e-mail message at idlab@vt.edu. Be sure to include your location (State) and mailing address. Or, you can contact my office at: Insect Identification Lab, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0319. Please let us know how you heard about this World Wide Web page.