Yellow Jacket vs.Honeybee

In response to a request from a lovely reader, Samantha, I have done some research on the different species of bees that live in and around Metro Atlanta. I hope that this will help you to identify what kind of bees and wasps are in your yard.

Yellow Jackets

Bee or Wasp?
Contrary to popular belief, these picnic pests are actually social wasps. They are generally yellow and black or white and black. White and black Yellow Jackets can be easily confused with Bald-Faced Hornets. You may be able to distinguish a Yellow Jacket from a Honeybee by their markings, their frenzied side-to-side flight pattern, and their small size. Remember: Honeybees are generally more of a tan and black color and are noticably able to carry pollen on their legs ( they look like pollen "pockets" or as I like to call them: leg warmers).Also, Yellow Jackets have the capacity to sting more than one time. Honeybees, in contrast, can only sting once and then die. Yellow Jacket venom is only deadly to those who suffer from bee or wasp allergies or to those who have sustained a large number of stings at one time.

HONEYBEE:

YELLOW JACKET:

Notice the different shapes in the wings and body structure. Honeybees are hairy little guys- this allows pollen to stick to them when they visit flowers; Yellow Jackets are sleek and streamlined. Also, pay attention to the bright colors of the Yellow Jacket and the dull color of the Honeybee.

Where they live:
Yellow Jackets build colonies in trees, shrubs, attics, eaves, under porches, or in underground locations such as mouse burrows or soil cavities. They construct their colonies out of wood fiber that has been chewed into a paper pulp. On the other hand, Honeybees build their nests out of wax and take the shape of comb and do not dwell underground.

Yellow Jackets:

Notice the paper-like material of the nest and the conical shape.

Honeybees:

Bees create their colonies out wax and form comb to store brood (baby bees) and honey!

Life Cycle

Unlike Honeybees, Yellow Jackets only survive during the warmer months. In the winter, the colony will die off, leaving only the fertilized queen to survive. She will hide out in in a protective place (re: log, attic, burrow in the ground, etc) until spring. When spring arrives, she will build a small nest and raise about 50 brood. Once these youngYellow Jackets are reared and raised, she will let them take over the responsibilities of the nest and continue to lay eggs. At full capacity, a Yellow Jacket nest can have a maximum of 5,000 workers and about 15,000 brood cells. Giant Yellow Jacket nests have been reported in the Southeastern United States, as the weather is perfect for them.

All and all, I don't think it is very difficult to distinguish a Yellow Jacket from a Honeybee.