You’re taking a nice stroll outside when all of a sudden a flash of yellow flies past you. A bee! Or is it? Bees come in many shapes, sizes, and colors (they don’t have to be black and yellow!), so it can be tough to discern whether the insect you’re looking at is a bee or not. But, here is a simple guide that can help you see what the buzz is about.
First of all, what is a bee? Bees are classified in the superfamily Apoieda, within the broader order of Hymenoptera.1 Some principle characteristics of bees are just like any other insect: they have three body segments (head, thorax, and abdomen), at least three pairs of legs (for a total of six), and an exoskeleton.2 But, bees also have some distinct characteristics as well. Bees have two sets of wings (four wings total), and a notable hourglass shape with a narrow waist between the thorax and abdomen.3
Bees can also be confused with wasps, since both insects are in the same taxonomic order. However, wasps tend to be more slender than bees and tend to lack fuzz on their thorax and abdomen. Additionally, common bee look-alikes like the yellow jacket wasp have a brighter yellow coloring than the duller yellow of a honeybee.4
There are other insects outside of the order Hymenoptera that intentionally mimic bees: namely other pollinators like flies, beetles, and moths. Mimicry occurs when two organisms who are not taxonomically related look physically similar to one another.5 Bee mimics attempt to copy the physical appearance of bees in order to mislead predators into thinking they’re capable of stinging.4
While it can be tricky to identify the difference between bees and their mimics, there are some easy ways to point out the differences. Flies only have one pair of wings, very short antennae, proportionally large eyes, and a less-defined waist.4 For example, flies like hoverflies (Family: Syrphidae) and bee flies (Family: Bombyliidae) are often very convincing bee look-alikes but have very short antennae and only one set of wings.
Certain beetles can take on the black and yellow coloration of bees as well but are distinct for their wings, called elytra.4 Elytra on beetles are hard and opaque, as opposed to bees with their thin and translucent wings. Beetles like the painted locust borer (Megacyllene robiniae) can look similar to bees in passing, but upon closer inspection clearly don’t have the shape or translucent wings of bees.
Finally, some moths look similar to bees but are distinct for their slender legs and overly long proboscis. The Clear-winged Sphinx Moth (Synanthedon vespiformis) is an example of an effective bee mimic. It has translucent wings and can have a black and yellow coloration, but there is not enough definition between the thorax and abdomen and the proboscis is too long.
Bees are pretty cool creatures, so it’s no wonder other insects would try to mimic their effective defensive measures. While it can be difficult to distinguish between a bee and a mimic out in the wild, taking the time to inspect more closely will not only allow you to practice a new skill, but will foster an appreciation for the cool parts of all pollinators.
Sources:
1Bee (2023). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/bee
2Britton, D. (2020). What are insects? Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/what-are-insects/
3Fellows, K. (2017). Is it a bee, wasp, or fly? Seeds of Diversity. https://seeds.ca/d/?t=c856f0d400003358
4What is (and isn’t) a bee? (n.d.). BeeSpotter, University of Illinois. https://beespotter.org/topics/mimics/
5Mimicry (2023). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/mimicry
