While bees might be beneficial to the health of your garden, some insects might make spending time in your garden less pleasant. And spending time outdoors in the summer with some food around often attracts different wasps varieties.
But despite looking like bees, they might ruin your afternoon. Indeed, we are not talking about the cute honey bees but about the aggressive yellow jackets, which are carnivores and won’t hesitate to sting to protect themselves.
Other “bee-like” insects that might become a nuisance in your garden include sweat bees.
But what should you know about them? And how can you learn to tell them apart? You have landed in the right place to find out! Indeed, there seems to be some confusion about yellow jackets and sweat bees. But don’t worry: we are here to help you clear all of your doubts.
What’s a Sweat Bee?
A sweat bee is a tiny black insect that might resemble a bee. You can identify sweat bees by looking at their colors: they are often metallic green but might display hues of blue too.
But don’t be fooled by their harmless appearance! Female sweat bees are quick to sting if bothered! And their “bite” can be painful as the sting will continue to pump venom until you remove it from your body.
It is worth mentioning that some people refer to sweet bees as other (harmless) insects with thin and yellow bands on their torso. However, in this article, we are talking about the rather aggressive ones.
What are Yellow Jackets?
Even if many people consider them bees, yellow jackets are wasps. They follow a carnivorous diet, so they will likely be around a barbecue. Also, be careful when eating your meal outdoors: these wasps love the smell of meat.
Despite being slightly smaller than your typical honey bee, a yellow jacket can be aggressive. As these insects don’t leave their stingers in the body of their victims, they can continue “biting” until they are satisfied. Unfortunately, their stings are painful.
Also, angry yellow jackets can effectively communicate with surrounding wasps and let them know of the danger. Such characteristics might attract more wasps around you, causing plenty of damage.
Sweat Bees vs. Yellow Jackets: All You Need to Know
Pay attention to the details to avoid having issues telling sweat bees from yellow jackets. To make things simple remember that sweat bees are black and small, while yellow jackets are black and yellow and slightly more elongated.
Unfortunately, males and sweet bees have black and yellow abdomens, which might make the identification more challenging from a distance. Still, if you see a metallic body, you can safely claim to be dealing with a sweat bee.
Also, yellow jackets are more dangerous than sweat bees, which can only sting you once. The wasps’ bite is more painful and could be repetitive.
As the name suggests, sweat bees are attracted to the salty flavor and scent of human scent. Instead, yellow jackets love the smell of meat.
Because the two are aggressive, letting them be in your garden might not be the best idea. But how can you get rid of these insects?
Eliminating Sweat Bees and Yellow Wasps from Your Property
To begin with, you can try setting up a bit: consider adding a mixture of water, honey, sugar, and nectar inside a trap. You can find some online. If the situation doesn’t seem severe, you can even consider spraying the insects. Such a remedy is effective and usually quick.
However, it won’t work with a colony. You can consider purchasing repellents to keep sweat bees and yellow jackets away from your property. Both sweat bees and yellow wasps don’t like the smell of citronella or lemongrass: consider adding both to your garden.
While such methods might be effective, when the infestation isn’t manageable anymore, don’t hesitate to call a professional service!
Related Article: Do Yellow Jacket Nests Have Two Entrances?