2 Bugs That Look Like Honey Bees

1. Yellowjacket

A sleek, bright yellow-and-black wasp that nests underground or in wall voids. Late-summer workers scavenge for sweets and meat and are drawn to picnics and trash cans.

How it differs:

• Color: Honey Bees are yellow, brown and black; yellowjackets are yellow and black.
• Risk: the honey bee can bite or sting, usually with mild, local effects, while the yellowjacket can cause medically significant bites, stings or disease.
• Where found: look for honey bees in gardens and on plants; yellowjackets turn up in lawns and grass, in yards and on patios and in gardens and on plants.

2. Bumble Bee

A large, round, very hairy bee with black and yellow bands. It nests in the ground or old rodent burrows and pollinates tomatoes, blueberries and wildflowers.

How it differs:

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

Side-by-side comparison

Quick identification checklist

1. Count the legs. Honey Bees have 6 legs.
2. Check for wings. Honey Bees have wings.
3. Measure it. Honey Bees are 12–15 mm (up to about 0.59 in).
4. Look for the signature feature: golden-brown to amber body with dark abdominal bands.
5. Note where you found it. Honey Bees are usually in gardens and on plants.

When you'll see honey bees

Honey 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 honey 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 honey bees or their lookalikes dangerous?

• Honey Bee: A honey bee sting is painful and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people; call a local beekeeper for swarms.
• Yellowjacket: Yellowjackets sting repeatedly and defend nests aggressively; multiple stings or an allergy can be dangerous.
• Bumble Bee: Bumble bees are gentle but can sting more than once if their nest is disturbed.

Frequently asked questions