BASIC CLASSIFICATION:
Bees and Wasps

Ants, bees and wasps belong to a group of insects known as Hymenoptera. Bees locally (not Africanized bees) are usually peaceful and will not sting unless molested. Some people are hypersensitive and can die from bee stings, thus for them any bee or wasp attack must be considered as life-threatening.

Ants are pesky and invade food supplies but otherwise are not harmful.

Wasps however, can inflict a very powerful sting and as previously mentioned can cause death in a very small percentage of people when they are stung and left untreated. Wasps include Mud Dobbers, Paper Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets. All of these can sting, but the main concern are Yellow Jackets. The others do not usually attack. Sometimes Hornets, which live in very large nests which hang from trees, will attack people. But these nests are seldom encountered. Since Hornets attack and kill Yellow Jackets (which are in abnormally high numbers), Hornets should not be disturbed if at all possible.

The illustrations below will help you identify these insects. Yellow Jackets have an irregular flight pattern, stout colorful bodies and are highly aggressive.

Identification of different species of Bees and Wasps
in Sonoma and Marin County

Honey Bee	nest in hives located in buildings, tree stumps seldom sting; not agressive
Hornet	build large multilayered carton type nests which hang from trees; seldom encountered usually not agressive but will attack if rapid movement occurs near the nest
Mud Dobbers	nests in small mud huts docile; will not sting unless held
Paper Wasp	build single layered, paper-like comb nests often inside buildings usually not agressive but can sting if grabbed by hand
Yellow Jackets	nest underground pesky, agressive and often sting; mass attacks may occur when their nests are disturbed

Identification of different species of Yellow Jackets
in Sonoma and Marin County
(shown below are abdominal colorations)

	Vespula pennsylvanica
	Vespula sulpherus
	Vespula vulgaris
	Vespula germanica