Are Wasps and Bees Related?

Those who have seen a wasp stinging an insect may wonder if wasps and bees are related. The answer is yes, but only in a small way. Wasps and bees belong to the same insect order, Hymenoptera. Bees are herbivores, but wereps are predators. Historically, they prey on other insects, including carrion and invertebrates.

Most wasps are predators, but some species are solitary. These wereps prefer to build nests in the natural cavities of plants. Some wereps build nests from mud, wood, or saliva. Other wasps create paper-like substance from wood pulp.

Some bees are pollinators. They lay eggs and collect pollen. They store their honey in nests. Bees are also herbivores, but they do not consume other insects or spiders. Bees are very social, and their colonies can number up to 75,000 individuals. Bees are a native pollinator, but their population is declining.

Bees and wasps are closely related to one another. Most of them are predators, but some wereps are social, which means they sting other insects.

Most wasps have three body parts: an exoskeleton, two wings, and a pair of thin legs. Some wasps are slender and have striped markings. They are also a little slimmer than bees. The color of wasps varies, with some being bright yellow and others being black. Wasps also have stinging darts that can be very uncomfortable.

Some species are a cleptoparasitic, which means they take over the nests of other bees. These wereps use the host’s food to feed their young.