2 Bugs That Look Like Bumble Bees

1. Carpenter Bee

A large bee that bores perfectly round holes into bare wood on decks, eaves and fences. Males hover aggressively near nests but cannot sting.

How it differs:

• Risk: the bumble bee can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects, while the carpenter bee is a nuisance pest but not a health threat to most people.
• Where found: look for bumble bees in gardens and on plants; carpenter bees turn up indoors and in gardens and on plants.
• Signature feature: Bumble Bees: plump, fuzzy body covered in dense hair. Carpenter Bees: shiny, hairless black abdomen.

2. Honey Bee

A fuzzy, golden-brown bee with darker bands that pollinates crops and flowers and lives in large colonies. A worker's barbed stinger stays in the skin after it stings.

How it differs:

• Size: Bumble Bees are larger, reaching 25 mm, while honey bees top out around 15 mm.
• Color: Bumble Bees are black and yellow; honey bees are yellow, brown and black.
• Signature feature: Bumble Bees: plump, fuzzy body covered in dense hair. Honey Bees: golden-brown to amber body with dark abdominal bands.

Side-by-side comparison

Quick identification checklist

1. Count the legs. Bumble Bees have 6 legs.
2. Check for wings. Bumble Bees have wings.
3. Measure it. Bumble Bees are 10–25 mm (up to about 0.98 in).
4. Look for the signature feature: plump, fuzzy body covered in dense hair.
5. Note where you found it. Bumble Bees are usually in gardens and on plants.

When you'll see bumble bees

Bumble Bees are most active in spring, summer and fall. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly. In fall, many bugs look for shelter, and some move toward or into buildings.

Typical places to check: garden or plants.

About bees & wasps

The bumble bee is one of the bees & wasps. Bees and wasps belong to the same order as ants. Social species such as honey bees, bumble bees, yellowjackets and hornets live in colonies with a queen, while solitary species such as mud daubers and cicada killers raise their young alone. Only females can sting, because the stinger is a modified egg-laying tube.

Social wasp colonies grow all summer and are largest and most defensive in late summer and early fall. Most colonies die off in winter, leaving only new queens to start over in spring.

Are bumble bees or their lookalikes dangerous?

• Bumble Bee: Bumble bees are gentle but can sting more than once if their nest is disturbed.
• Carpenter Bee: Females can sting but rarely do; repeated nesting weakens wood and attracts woodpeckers.
• Honey Bee: A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.

Frequently asked questions