This planet is home to over 20,000 species of bees. You can find them anywhere in the world except for Antarctica. That said, no species have the same traits and behavior. Each species has its distinct characteristics and behaviors that make it unique. Of all species, Honeybees and Bumblebees are two of the most common species.

Moreover, at the species level, Bumblebees have over 250 subspecies, while honeybees have only a few different subspecies. This is not the only difference. There are many differences, and this blog is about to explore the four major differences between honeybees and bumblebees so that you know how to identify them and take accurate measures.

So, without any further delay. Let’s dive in.

1. Physical appearance

The easiest way to distinguish between honeybees and bumblebees is by their appearance. Bumblebees are robust, generally round in shape, large in grith, and have fuzzy hair on their body, which differs in colors, mainly orange, yellow, and black.

Meanwhile, Honeybees have a slender appearance, leaner and smaller in size, with very few body hairs and translucent wings. It is also easy to spot the head and abdomen of a honeybee. Whereas it is difficult to distinguish between different body sections of a bumblebee.

2. Natural habitat and life span

The differences in the habitats of honeybees and bumblebees are most evident in the habitats where they are found. As most of us may have seen, honeybees construct and live in intricate bee hives with thousands of other honeybees. These hives can be found in hollow structures such as trees and can also be cultivated and domesticated by beekeepers in controlled environments.

Bumblebees, on the other hand, live in nests that contain 400 to 450 bees. They prefer dense grassy areas or underneath sheds in the wild. Honeybee colonies can survive for a longer period, spanning across multiple seasons, whereas only the queen of a bumblebee colony can survive the winter.

3. Honey Production

Honeybees, as the name suggests, produce honey, which is the only bee product in the world that is consumed by humans. Bumblebees do not produce honey because of their fewer colony members. Moreover, whatever they can produce is consumed by their colony.

4. Aggressiveness and stinging behavior

Both honeybees and bumblebees can sting human beings when they are provoked or feel threatened. The difference between the two is that a honeybee can only sting once before it dies, whereas bumblebees can sting multiple times before dying. Honeybees usually attack their target in swarms, and bumblebees can be found attacking in solitary or in small numbers.

Wrapping Up

Regardless of the type of bees, whether bumble or honey, carpenter or Africanized, their presence in and around your house is always a threat. If you notice a nest, do not go near the hive to inspect the type of bees or try to remove it on your own. Instead, seek the help of pest control professionals, who can tackle such situations after a thorough evaluation. Meanwhile, keep a safe distance from the bees.

And, that’s a wrap.