Many bees and wasps share similar coloring and markings which can make them difficult to tell apart. When residential and commercial clients call with bee complaints, NJ pest control experts use a number of identifiers to determine whether the offending insect is a bee or a wasp. Correctly identifying stinging pests is the first step to their elimination and can make a difference in the steps NYC pest control professionals take to control or exterminate an infestation of these potentially dangerous pests.

• Bees are typically covered with tiny hairs and have thick bodies. Beneficial pollinators, most bees feed on plant nectar and collect pollen to feed their larvae.
• Wasps are usually smooth bodied with ant-like, constricted waists. These predatory insects feed primarily on insects but will also eat plant nectar, fruit and carrion.
• Most bees live in large social hives governed by a strict caste system that defines each insect’s role. A notable exception is the carpenter bee which is a solitary bee that lives in mated pairs.
• Depending on their species, wasps may live in large social colonies or they may live a solitary existence.

Honey bees are a protected species that, by law, cannot be exterminated. When hives present a problem, bee keepers are called in to capture the bees and relocate the hive. Other bees and wasps can be exterminated when they pose a threat.