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How to Identify Wasps & Bees in Michigan

Bees and wasps make up one of the largest insect groups in the world. Many different species of bees and wasps can be found across the United States, and hundreds of these species can be found living in Michigan. Many of these wasps and bees look alike. Some bees can be helpful to your garden by spreading pollen from plant to plant, while many types of wasps can be aggressive and harmful. In order to know whether they are harmful or helpful, there are several steps you can take to identify these insects.

Instructions

- 1
  Observe the insect's shape. Note whether it is slim and angular, or round looking. Rounder insects are usually bees. Insects that seem narrower, or seem to have jointed bodies, are usually wasps.
- 2
  Look at the bee or wasp and see if there are any fuzzy-looking areas on the insect. Mostly, it is the bees that seem to have fuzz on them. The fuzz can usually be found on the head and body of the bee, especially on honeybees, carpenter bees or bumblebees. However, some wasps, such as the bald-faced hornet and some yellowjacket wasps, both of which are native to Michigan, also have fuzzy areas on their bodies. Where the fuzz is located, and how much of it there is on the insect, can give you a better idea of the specific kind of bee or wasp you're looking at.
- 3
  Note the insect's size. Different sizes can help narrow down what kind of bee or wasp you're looking at. For example, if you see a round insect, you know it's probably a bee. If it is about one-half inch in size, it's probably a honeybee or bumblebee. If it's larger than this, it may be a carpenter bee. Both of these species can be found in Michigan.
- 4
  Look at the coloring on the insect. Although most bees and wasps are colored in yellow and black, each insect pattern is slightly different. For example, the Southern yellowjacket, which is found in Michigan, has a mostly yellow body and tail, while the blackjacket of Michigan has thicker, more prominent black stripes running along its entire body. Other bees and wasps may display red, brown or white coloration, which can further help you tell the difference between them.
- 5
  Observe the insect's behavior. Different bees and wasps behave differently to feed, build their homes and reproduce. If you notice that the insects are gathering pollen, you probably have some type of bumblebee or honeybee. If the insect looks like a wasp and is burrowing into the ground, you may have a yellowjacket or mining-type wasp. If the insect is large and is attacking a cicada, you are probably looking at a cicada killer wasp, which lays its eggs in cicadas.

Insects & Science