The main signs of how to distinguish a wasp from a bee. What is the difference between bees and wasps

It should immediately be noted that almost all types of bees are very similar to each other. From a purely visual perspective, there are no significant differences between queens, drones, and worker bees. It would seem that the structure of the bee is identical for each species. However, the differences are hidden in some details.

In general, the external characteristics of the structure of bees, both in general and in individual parts, are distinguished by an unusual role, which makes it possible to determine the characteristics of the productivity of an insect. For this reason, experienced beekeepers pay great attention to a detailed study of both the general structure of the bee and its individual parts.

Without a doubt, there is no such person who would not know what a bee, which belongs to the order of arthropods, looks like. Wasps and ants are her closest relatives. In an adult, it is rather problematic to visually detect membranes on the body, but they are present. General structure The bee consists of a head, abdomen, wings and legs. It seems to be a very simple structure, but everything is not so simple.

The outside of the body of an insect is covered with hairs that have different lengths and differ in purpose. Separate hairs act as sensory organs, and sometimes this cover protects the bee from hypothermia. This article will discuss in detail the structure honey bee, each individual part of it.

The structure of the head

The bee is characterized by a very strong skull that protects internal organs heads, represented by the nerve and brain centers. At the top of the head are 5 eyes, 2 of which are large and complex. It should be noted that the vision of bees allows them to capture every shade and every detail of what is happening around.

In the center of the head there are 3 more simple eyes, which are characterized by poor development, however, thanks to them, the bee captures the outlines and contours of surrounding objects. Only these eyes enable the insect to move in the dark in search of its home.

In general, the structure of the bee helps her both in work and in cleaning the body. The head continues with antennae, which are organs of touch and consist of eleven particles. This structure of the antennae allows the bee to move them in different directions. After considering the question of how many eyes a bee has and what antennae are for, the description of the structure of the insect should be continued.

Thanks to this structure of the oral cavity, the shoulder has the ability to bite an uninvited guest, as well as bite through the honeycomb. Bottom part the mouth is similar to the proboscis, which helps the insect collect nectar and bring it to the dwelling. The size of the proboscis is approximately 5-8 mm. The largest "noses" are Caucasian bees.

Returning to the question of the vision of this beautiful insect, it should be noted that the spectrum of color vision in a honey bee allows it, in addition to the rays of the visible spectrum, to distinguish also ultra-violet rays that are invisible to the human eye. For example, 2 shields painted white will appear to the human eye
they are absolutely identical, although in the 1st of them the paint reflects ultraviolet rays, and in the 2nd it absorbs.

But for bees, they will look like different colors, and a white shield that reflects ultraviolet rays will be distinguished by insects from a shield whose color absorbs these rays. As for the question of what colors bees distinguish, scientists have proven that the insect perfectly distinguishes green, yellow, orange and blue colors.

Breast structure

The bee chest consists of 4 segments. The last 4th segment (counted from the head) is in fact the 1st segment of the abdomen, but joins the 3rd segment of the chest before the transformation of the insect from the larval phase to the pupal phase. True, today biological significance anatomical changes have not yet been sufficiently studied. By the way, many novice beekeepers ask the question, is a bee an animal or an insect, which definition is correct?

Bees belong to the class of insects, but the concept of "animals" implies the ability to eat ready-made organic compounds, as well as intensive movement. Thus, the bee is not only an insect, but also an animal in the broadest sense of the word. By the way, probably not everyone knows how many stomachs a bee has and their functions.

In total, the insect has 2 stomachs, one of which serves for digestion, and the second for honey.

The 1st thoracic segment is movably connected to the head, which increases the flexibility of the whole body, which is so necessary for the bee when various works. Two front legs are attached to the anterior segment. The 2nd segment is slightly more developed than the other thoracic segments.

This is due to the fact that the strongest muscles that set the 1st pair of wings in motion are located directly in the 2nd segment, to which, in addition to the 1st pair of wings, the 2nd pair of legs are also attached. The 3rd pair of legs is fixed to the 3rd segment, as well as the 2nd pair of wings, which will be discussed in the next section. In addition, in the abdomen are the organs of wax excretion in bees that produce wax.

bee wings

So how many wings does a bee have in total? Honey bees have 2 pairs of wings on the chest, with the 1st pair slightly bigger size than the 2nd. By the position of the wings, you can determine the state of the insect. If the wings are folded on the back of the bee, then it is respectively at rest. Before flying, she spreads her wings, after which they interlock, forming one plane.

Bee wings do not have muscles, however, during the flight, the insect makes about 400 wing beats per second. The wings are driven by the muscles of the chest. In one flight, an insect is able to carry about 75 mg of weight. The speed of a bee is 20 km per hour, but without any weight it can reach 60 km per hour.

How much does a bee weigh? At the time of departure, a young individual weighs about 0.122 grams, feeding or building - 0.134 grams, and a flying bee has a mass of about 0.120 grams.

It should be noted that the range of flights is associated with several factors:

• relief;
• surrounding landmarks;
• terrain;
• location of honey plants.

If the surface is relatively flat with a small amount landmarks, bees are able to fly about 4 km from the location of the hive. And if landmarks are available in large numbers, the range increases by 2-3 times, respectively.

bee legs

Like the bulk of other insects, the legs of the bees perform the function of a support, and also contribute to movement not only with the use of wings. Bees clean their bodies with their legs. In workers, the legs are used to collect pollen, which is then transferred to their hives. How many legs does a bee have and where are they located?

Like every given class of insects, bees have 3 pairs of limbs. They grow from the chest part of the body. Any leg has about 5 segments, which are connected by a film of chitin, which provides the limbs with such mobility. It should be noted that honey bees are distinguished by their front legs being smaller in size compared to all others, but more mobile.

The front legs are equipped with small brushes with which the bees clean their eyes. Identical brushes are present on the remaining legs. They are used to collect pollen from the body as well as to clean the mouth fit. Honey insects are distinguished by increased cleanliness; for this reason, cleaning the body is given great importance how bees differ from wasps, among other features.

The middle limbs are not as mobile, however, they perform similar functions. The hind legs are much more mobile than the middle ones, but less than the front ones. They are characterized by the presence of a significant number of devices designed to collect pollen and its further transportation.

On the outer side of the leg there is a small basket, which serves to create a footprint, which is later transferred to the hive. These limbs are hallmark worker insects as they are the main pollen collectors. After considering the question - how many paws a bee has, you need to clarify the differences between bees and wasps.

Differences between bees and wasps

The main difference between bees and wasps is that the former are hard workers. For the good of their hive, they work endlessly. In the process of collecting nectar, bees produce a large number of products that are used in human nutrition and pharmaceuticals. Wasps, in turn, do not produce any products, their own hives are built from various waste.

What are other differences between wasps and bees that will help visually distinguish these insects? When danger arises, the bee stings if it is attacked first, thereby protecting its hive. If a bee stings, it will die because its sting remains in the opponent's body. Bee families are distinguished by the presence of a hierarchy, at the highest level of which is the queen.

The wasp is a rather aggressive insect. They are very annoying and always ready to sting. If a wasp stings, it does not die. In addition to the sting, wasps use the jaw apparatus to protect themselves, which is not at all typical for individuals of its family. So how to distinguish a bee from a wasp to an inexperienced person?

The next step is to consider the question - where is the bee's sting used for protection?

The location of the sting in bees

A bee sting is a pointed organ that is also part of the body of an insect.

The sting is used to sting enemies, resulting in the injection of a burning and poisonous substance.

Where is the bee's sting? This organ is located behind the abdomen, it is a modified ovipositor.

The sting is used as a defense weapon against various attacks. Since the bee is characterized by a flexible abdominal structure, the blow is delivered very precisely. Usually, the insect itself does not attack, but uses such a tool only as a defense in case of danger to the family or its own life.

Not everyone who knows where the sting of a bee is has the idea that under a microscope, notches are visible on the organ, with the help of which the sting remains in the body of a person or animal. As a result of the attack, an open wound appears in the insect, which becomes the cause of its death.

Summing up this article, we can say that until now, not everyone had an idea of ​​how complex the bee is. Meanwhile, this insect is distinguished by its amazing structure, in which each organ or segment has its own function and purpose. The following questions were revealed in the text: how many stomachs a bee has, the structure of the head and abdomen of the insect, its wings and legs.

• Aerodrome - a device used by beekeepers while shaking out bees. Helps bees enter the hive from the ground
• Bribe - the amount of honey brought by bees in 1 day
• Voshchina - a thin plate of wax inserted into the frame by the beekeeper in order to make it easier for the bees to build honeycombs. "Foundation" of the future sushi
• Smoker - a device used to pacify bees with smoke
• Zabrus - honey mixed with wax caps of honeycombs to be further processed
• Winter club - the state of the bee colony during winter, when the bees do not sleep, but are in a less mobile state, clinging to each other, keeping vitality and warm.
• A deck (it’s also a board) is a beehive used in ancient times to keep bees. It is a hollow tree trunk
• Shop - the body of the hive, which is placed on top. The bees fill it exclusively with honey.
• Honey extractor - a device for pumping honey. Thanks to centrifugal force honey is pumped out of the honeycomb
• Honey collection - the period of honey collection by bees. There is a main, supporting, etc. The main one - when the bees bring the most bribe (honey)
• Spray - nectar that bees put in honeycombs, fermented and dried to turn it into honey
• Nucleus - a small hive that serves to contain a certain number of bees and a young queen until it is fertilized. It is used in the reproduction of families and in breeding
• Obnozhka - a collection of pollen collected by a bee on its hind legs
• Signet - a way of covering honeycombs with bees. Differs from different breeds, is wet and dry, depending on whether the honey touches the wax caps or not.
• PZHVM - a waste product of the wax moth
• A bee colony is a structural unit of a bee society. Honey bees live only in families. The family includes worker bees, drones and only one queen.
• Pollen is a collection of pollen grains from seed plants.
• Pollen collector (pollen trap) - a device for collecting pollen from honey bees
• The buildup is jarg. The period of pumping honey from the frames by the beekeeper
• Printout - removal of wax caps from cells of combs for the removal of honey in centrifuges-honey extractors
• Brood - eggs, open or wax capped larvae of worker bees and drones
• PP - dividing grid, serves to limit the movement of the uterus in cases and magazines
• Dryness - a frame with lined honeycombs. The name comes from the fact that the frames, after pumping honey, are usually dried indoors.
• A drone is a male insect whose vital task is to fertilize a young uterus.
• SCM - silent queen change - the natural replacement of the old queen with a new one by bees, occurring without swarming,
• Street - the distance between 2 frames. The concept is used when buying and selling frame bee packages or hives, when they indicate how many streets are occupied by bees. The frames in the package are always 1 less than the streets

With the onset of heat, almost all insects are activated. Wasps and bees do not stand aside, reminding of their existence in the natural environment, on the balconies of apartments, in city parks and squares, on household plots. From school curriculum Few people remember the difference between a wasp and a bee. Interest is sharply awakened at the sight of stinging insects, and especially after their bites.

External differences

Despite the fact that wasps and bees belong to the same order of Hymenoptera and are essentially related, they have many differences. We will not take into account the exotic types of flyers and consider:

• common types of paper wasps;
• honey bees;
• hornets - typical representatives public wasps;
• bumblebees - ambassadors from the family of real bees.

Color

It is possible to identify the difference between a bee and a wasp visually in appearance. The color of the bee is yellow muted tones with black stripes. The body is covered with hairs.

The wasp, on the other hand, is distinguished by a smooth body without signs of hairline, rich yellow and contrasting black stripes. The bright "dress" of the insect is noticeable at a great distance. And the wasp does not need a thick pile, because collecting nectar does not belong to its main trade.

The color of the body is one of the main signs of difference between a bee and a wasp.

body structure

The wasp is not in vain famous for its aspen waist - the interception between the abdomen and chest. In the photo, the graceful bend is seen especially clearly. The body shape is elongated. Upon closer examination, powerful jaws and thin legs stand out.

The hornet looks very similar to a wasp, but only with more developed jaws and a thickened waist.

On a note! Hornet - the most large insect among traditional wasps and bees, it exceeds them in size by two to three times. The dimensions of the flyer can reach 5-6 cm.

The bee has a more rounded body and the interception between its parts is barely distinguishable. In comparison with the wasp, the proportions are harmonious. The abdomen differs in shape depending on what step the insect occupies in the bee hierarchy. In honey workers, it is egg-shaped, in the uterus it is elongated, and in drones it has a blunt ending. Unlike wasps, bees have so-called baskets on thick legs - containers in which they place flower nectar.

Differences in lifestyle and behavior

The flight path and the manner of controlling one's own body are no less noticeable differences between a bee and a wasp. The honey collector flies smoothly. The wasp, on the other hand, develops a decent speed, because of which its movements sometimes become jerky and it is capable of short intervals time to "hang" in space.

The calmest "driving style" of bumblebees. Due to their size and mass, they fly slowly, without hurrying. Watching a flying bumblebee, one gets the impression that the poor fellow is holding himself in the air with great effort.

Interesting! For a long time, naturalists generally considered the version that the flying qualities of bumblebees manifest themselves contrary to all the laws of aerodynamics.

It is common for all representatives to live in families:

• Domestic bees live in houses carefully prepared by beekeepers. Wild individuals create hives in tree hollows, rocky gorges. Occasionally there are bees that prefer a solitary lifestyle.
• Wasps can also live in organized families with a strict lifestyle, where everyone performs their function, or be a hermit. Unlike bees, wasp nest they look like paper, the material for their manufacture is chewed grass and wood.
• Bumblebees live in small colonies, the number of which does not exceed 200 individuals. They build their nests in abandoned rodent burrows, in hollows of trees. They prefer to go alone for the extraction of provisions, while wasps most often move in groups.
• Hornets, as befits wasps, build paper nests. Only rotten stumps and branches act as building materials, so their dwelling is brown, not gray.

Nutrition Features

The bee is a true vegetarian and collects only nectar, the pollen of flowers. Her principles of nutrition are shared by the bumblebee - the same connoisseur of flower products.

But wasps and hornets are avid hunters and predators. Protein menu necessary for larvae, so workers attack small insects sometimes even larger than them. Often their prey is a bee, a fly. To immobilize the victim, the wasps do not always use their main weapon - the sting.

With weak opponents, they successfully cope with powerful jaws. Each species has its own strategy and tactics of attack, but in most cases they drag their prey to the nest, saddling it on horseback.

Wasps stuck around a piece of meat, fish, a fallen animal are a common occurrence. With their powerful jaws, they bite off tiny pieces of meat and bring them to the larvae in a chewed state.

With great enthusiasm, wasps and hornets eat fermented or fresh fruits, sugary foods, sugary drinks and even beer.

What is the difference between insect bites

People quite often become victims of stinging insects. In this connection, the question arises of how a bee sting differs from a wasp sting, and which of them dies after the attack. Both creatures have a sting in their arsenal. They just use it differently.

The sting of the bee is uneven with protruding notches. Outwardly, it is very similar to a harpoon. When an insect attacks, it introduces a sting into the skin, poisonous substances enter through a thin channel. The bee tries to pull out its tool, but uneven surface pity won't let her do it. As a result of efforts, it breaks away from the body, and with it the pouch of poison, as well as internal organs, most often the intestines. Such injuries cause the death of the bee.

The wasp has a more advanced tool. The sting is almost smooth and extremely sharp. It is considered one of the sharpest instruments in the world. During a bite, poisonous components enter through it. Each species has a different composition.

The shape of the body allows the wasp to attack its prey from any angle. After the attack, the insect freely removes the tool from the skin of the victim and moves away or makes a second attack.

On a note! If you want to experience and find out for yourself what the stings of bees and wasps look like and how they differ, be sure to start waving your arms vigorously and making loud sounds when you see the approaching minke whales. So you significantly increase the chances of being bitten.

Pain after bites appear not so much due to damage to the skin, but due to the components of the poison, which provoke burning, itching and possible allergic reactions. The stings of hornets cause the greatest discomfort and suffering, followed by bumblebees, wasps and bees in terms of the degree of pain.

Summary

A bee, wasp, bumblebee, hornet have many differences, despite the fact that they are from the same order. Having carefully studied the photo of each, you can recognize them unmistakably by appearance. All these insects play their role in nature and benefit humans. Bees provide honey, and wasps exterminate and reduce the number of pests.

bees

bees- flying insects of the suborder Stalk-bellied, related to wasps and ants.

The bee is one of the most beneficial insects living on our planet. The worker bee not only gives healing and unique products, such as honey, bee bread, royal jelly, propolis, wax, but also pollinates plants, contributing to the continuation of life on Earth. Bee venom is used in medicine.

Bees are social insects: they live in a large colony called a swarm.

The bee is equipped with a stinger, which serves to protect against insects that try to enter the hive, but sometimes the bees can sting a person. This happens, as a rule, by chance, if a person, without noticing the bee, crushed it, or if the bee got tangled in the hair. Sometimes a bee can get into the mouth along with a piece of something sweet. An attack by a swarm of bees on a person usually occurs near their home, so the bees try to save their nest and the inhabitants of the colony from the enemy. When attacked, a bee releases poison, to which nearby individuals react and join the attack.

The sting of the bee is equipped with teeth bent inward, which are tightly stuck in the skin of a person or animal, after which the bee will no longer be able to remove it. Together with the sting, the bee also leaves a poisonous gland, and part of the digestive organs.

The pain syndrome and the severity of edema after a bee attack depend on the individual reaction of the body to the bee venom.

wasps

wasps- the name of some stinging insects from the suborder Stalk-bellied, not related to bees and ants, which does not have a strictly scientific definition. Wasps are social, such as hornets, a swarm of which can reach several thousand individuals, and solitary, such as wasps - excavators or flower wasps.

Wasps, unlike bees, when defending against external factors, threatening their existence, use not only their stings, but also the jaw apparatus, biting the object of alarm. Their sting, unlike bees, does not have notches, therefore, when stinging, they do not cripple their sting. Like bees, nearby individuals react to the smell of poison and unite to attack the enemy.

The pain and severity of swelling after a wasp attack depends on what kind of wasp stung you, as well as on the general reaction of the body to the poison.

What to do and how to behave so that insects do not sting you?

- No need to panic, wave your arms and make other sudden movements. If a bee or a wasp flies around you or sits on your clothes or body, you should calmly let the bee examine you, because this does not mean that the insect is aggressive, it just smells an interesting smell on you - after reconnaissance, it will fly further.

- When arriving in nature, especially in areas where there are many flowers, do not walk barefoot. There may be stinging insects in the grass.

- Be careful when eating outdoors. Sweet foods and drinks attract bees and wasps. Before drinking sugary sparkling water, make sure there are no bees or wasps in it. Fruits also attract various insects, so be very careful. Do not leave fruit waste near your resting place.

- Try not to wear too loose clothes and let your hair down - the insect can get tangled in them and sting you.

- Try not to wear too bright clothes and do not use decorative cosmetics, especially perfumes and floral scented toilet water, so as not to attract the attention of insects once again.

- Keep your car windows closed. If a bee or a wasp flies into your car, stop and open all the windows, the insect will fly out on its own.

If you are still bitten by a bee or wasp, then first aid is:

In removing the sting, if it remains at the site of the bite (only bees leave).

In no case do not comb the affected area, as this contributes to the spread of poison into neighboring tissues and increases the risk of infection.

To reduce pain and swelling, apply ice to the bite site for 10 minutes.

Apply antiallergic ointment. If it is not available, then you should apply a gruel prepared from a simple baking soda and water. You can moisten a cotton swab in a solution of baking soda and apply to the bite site to reduce itching (it is better to tie for 1-2 hours).

You can use ointments with an antihistamine effect, they will help relieve symptoms

If the swelling at the site of the bite is very pronounced, the area of ​​redness is more than 10 cm, there is pronounced itching, take an anti-allergic agent of general action.

If severe itching persists, swelling increases and the diameter of the redness increases, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Try to avoid swarming bees and wasps. Do not have picnics or halts if you notice a nest of these insects nearby.

Arthropod insects bee and wasp have their own characteristics associated with the structure of the body, habitat. How is the hierarchy arranged in a bee or wasp family, how long do insects live, what factors affect life expectancy, what is their sting for?

General information about insects

The first mention of bees was recorded 15 thousand years ago, and reports of the uniqueness and mystery of communication between insects go back to the 17th century. In those days, the fact was established that the transmission of information and the language of bees lies in dances, which are distinguished by special movements, flight speed and buzzing power.

What is the difference between a bee and a wasp can be determined visually by appearance. The color of the bee has a muted color, and the body is covered with villi. The wasp has a smooth and long body, constricted in the chest area. The color of the wasp is bright, with noticeable yellow and black stripes.

Among the wasps, solitary and collective species are equally found. Therefore, biologists consider the wasp the most convenient object for studying the way animals live and the transition from a solitary existence to a colonial, and then to social interaction with a hierarchy.

Bees form a family, which is represented by 3 types of insects: the queen bee, worker bee and drone. Individuals differ in size and shape. The structure of the body of an insect forms:

• head;
• abdomen;
• breast;
• hard, flexible chitinous cover (external skeleton).

They are considered descendants of ancient wasps, in which some abilities were acquired or lost at a certain stage of development. Unlike wasps, where the queen is obliged to take care of herself on her own, in a bee colony she is surrounded by comprehensive care from the whole family.

Structural features

The main difference between the bee is the presence of a triangular head with the main part concentrated in it. nervous system and brain. In the middle of the head, along the crown of the head, there is a seam, from which complex (faceted) insect eyes are located on both sides.

From each individual hexagonal plate, a round tube extends into the depths, gradually tapering downwards. The walls of the tube are covered with a sheath that transmits light.

A branched nerve approaches each tubule from below. The eye of a working insect consists of 4-5 thousand facets, the uterus - up to 5 thousand, and the drone - up to 6-8 thousand. Simple eyes are located on the crown of the head, and the so-called third eye is on the line of the epicranial suture. The peculiarity of the structure of the organs of vision is in the form of transmission and processing of external information.

The wasp has 2 pairs of membranous wings, and its body measures 1.5 cm to 10 cm. On the sides of the wasp's head there are 2 large and complex eyes, which provide the insect with the ability to see simultaneously in different directions.

Below on the front side is the forehead, from which 2 movable jointed antennae (antennas) depart. They have olfactory organs designed for their orientation in a dark space. Antennae insect perceives humidity, temperature, level carbon dioxide in the nest.

On the head of the wasp are antennae that perform the following functions:

• remote and direct perception;
• measuring cell sizes when building a nest;
• taste buds.

The insect has 3 pairs of legs attached to the lower part of the chest and consisting of 9 segments. The paw itself is formed from 5 more parts interconnected by a chitinous film. The wings of a bee consist of membranes and are supported by veins in a taut state, and when flying, they are perpendicular to the body.

Insect Anatomy

The anatomical structure of a bee consists of organs:

• digestion;
• breathing;
• lymphatic system;
• the genital organs, which are located in the abdominal part.

In a honey insect, the abdomen is egg-shaped, in the uterus it is oblong, and in drones it has a blunt end. It consists of segments, which are a ring of 2 halves. Drones have 7 segments, the rest have 6. Between the last segments there is a stinging apparatus.

The digestive system of bees consists of 3 sections, and digestion occurs during the movement of food through the canal. The lymphatic system is not closed, filled with hemolymph and liquid substance. The organs of the system include a five-chambered heart and blood vessels.

The internal structure of a bee in a section looks like in the following way: a number of glands, vessels, nodes, food organs. A feature of the structure of the respiratory organs is the presence of air sacs without a chitinous lining inside and a tracheal system with holes in the rings that open depending on the state of the insect and the degree of its load.

The nervous system of a bee consists of the following parts:

• central;
• peripheral;
• vegetative.

The weight of the bee depends on functional duties in family. For a honey bee, it is 0.1 g, and for the uterus - 0.25 g.

The oral apparatus consists of the upper and lower lips, paired upper and lower jaws. By the bee oral apparatus equipped with a proboscis with which the insect collects nectar.

The oral apparatus of the wasp, unlike the bee, is designed to grind the plant mass that insects use to build a nest or for food.

Insect sting

The bee sting has small notches, due to which it always remains in the body of the victim. If we examine the sting of a bee under a microscope, then it shows a chitinous stylet with a thickening in the form of a saw at the proximal end. Inside the stylet are 2 lancets.

Wasps, hornets, ants also use a sting. This organ is a modified ovipositor and is located behind the abdominal region. The sting is a pointed organ and part of the body. With its help, a wasp or a bee injects a poisonous substance under the skin.

The stinging organ is used to defend against attacks. The sting is located at the end of the insect's abdomen and, when bitten, continues to act due to the glands for a long time. After a bite, in the place where the sting of the bee is located, an open mortal wound is formed. Not only honey, but also the uterus can sting, if necessary, to protect the family from attack and to fight someone else's uterus.

The main differences in the structure of the sting of a wasp and a bee:

• the sting of the wasp has small notches;
• the wasp has no knot at the tip of the stinger;
• the bee leaves its stinger in the victim and dies;
• A wasp can sting multiple times.

How to distinguish a wasp sting from a bee sting? In case of danger, the bees never attack first, but sting solely for self-defense, and after a bite they die. Wasps are aggressive insects, they are annoying and can sting at the most unexpected moment.

Unlike bees, in case of an external threat, wasps use not only the sting, but also the jaws. A wasp sting is very painful, and if there is an allergic reaction in a person, it can be dangerous.

Nutrition and habitat of insects

Among the wasps, predators and herbivores are distinguished. Depending on the type of wasp, they eat very diversely: aphids, pollen, nectar, insects, fruit juice. Predatory wasps catch their prey and paralyze with poison.

Wasps live everywhere, they are not found only in the Arabian Peninsula, the Arctic and the Sahara. The conditions necessary for the life of bees differ markedly: insects require plant resources with fruit trees, pastures, fields with technical and grain crops (sunflower, buckwheat).

The closer the apiary is to the urban agglomerations, the higher the probability of the presence of chemical elements as heavy metals. In search of nectar, the bee flies long distances.

Productivity in collecting honey largely depends on the amount of brood grown by working individuals. The flight speed of a bee with a filled goiter is 30-40 km/h. With intensive work, the amount of nectar collected by the bee family is 10-12 kg.

A worker bee makes 26 sorties per day. The mass of the bee is not stable. During the first flight, the mass of a bee is 0.122 g, in flight - 0.120 g, and the old flight - 0.108 g. The life of a bee born in autumn can be 7-8 months, and summer - up to 6 weeks. But the lifespan of insects can be regulated if the family for some reason lost the queen.

To find their way home, the bees navigate by the position of the Sun, the landscape and keep a map of the path in their memory. The organs of smell and touch help them navigate in conditions of absolute darkness.

The difference between a bee and a wasp is not only external. According to the way of life, bees are hard workers working for the benefit of the family. Collecting nectar from flowers, they produce many useful products:

• mother's milk;
• wax.

Many of them are used in the pharmaceutical industry (bee venom). Wasps are unable to produce healthy foods, and they build honeycombs from waste. Bees feed exclusively on pollen, while the diet of wasps is varied and includes an abundance of food. Very often in the garden they can be found on ripe apples or peaches, and inadvertently be stung.