What is the difference between a bee, a wasp and a hornet?

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1. 1

   Wasp (Wikipedia)

   WikipediaPublished Oct 15, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. The wasps do not constitute a clade, a complete natural group with a single ancestor, as bees and ants are deeply nested within the wasps, having evolved from wasp ancestors. Wasps that are members of the clade Aculeata can sting their prey. The most commonly known wasps, such as yellowjackets and hornets, are in the family Vespidae and are eusocial, living together in a nest with an egg-laying queen and non-reproducing workers. Eusociality is favoured by the unusual haplodiploid system of sex determination in Hymenoptera, as it makes sisters exceptionally closely related to each other. However, the majority of wasp species are solitary, with each adult female living and breeding independently. Females typically have an ovipositor for laying eggs in or near a food source for the larvae, though in the Aculeata the ovipositor is often modified instead into a sting used for defense or prey capture. Wasps play many ecological roles.”

2. 2

   Animal-Related Fatalities in the United States (2018-2023).

   Environmental health insights (Langley & Kearney)Published Jul 17, 2025Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Data was analyzed on 1604 total animal-related deaths, averaging 267 annually (crude death rate: 0.808 per 1 million population). Fatalities were stratified by cause, animal type (venomous vs nonvenomous), age, sex, race, ethnicity, and region. Overall, the major causes of death were from hornets, wasps, and bees (31.0%), "other mammals" (28.6%) and dogs (26.2%). Most decedents were male (67.6%), white (87.2%) and between 55 and 64 years old (22.8%). The Southern U.S. had the highest number (46.8%) and rate (0.984 per 1 million) of deaths. We observed an upward trend in animal-related fatalities, including a notable increase in human deaths caused by dogs during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise is likely associated with the surge in pet adoptions and increased time spent at home during this period. Public health strategies that promote safe animal interactions, increased awareness, and responsible pet ownership may help mitigate these fatalities. Future research should aim to capture contextual factors, such as household dynamics, animal behavior, and environmental conditions to better inform targeted prevention efforts.”

3. 3

   Identification-Based Comparative Proteomic and Peptidomic Profiling of Vespa mandarinia and Apis mellifera Venoms Supported by De Novo Transcriptomic Annotation.

   Toxins (Yang et al.)Published Aug 17, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Protein-level identification yielded 197 protein groups in VM-V PRO and 164 protein groups in AM-V PRO. AM-V contained well-recognized honeybee venom components, including phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase, venom acid phosphatase, venom dipeptidyl peptidase 4, melittin precursor, mast cell degranulating peptide precursor, secapin, and allergen Api m 6. VM-V PRO contained transcriptome-supported candidate venom-associated proteins, including venom dipeptidyl peptidase 4-like, hyaluronidase-like, venom allergen 5-like, serine protease-like, apolipophorin-like, and hexamerin-like entries. Peptide-fraction annotation was strongest in AM-V PEP, led by melittin precursor, whereas VM-V PEP remained largely unannotated. The study focuses on identification, annotation, and hypothesis-generating functional summaries, not replicate-level differential abundance. GO, KEGG, and STRING analyses organized functional annotation patterns and prioritized candidate protein groups. These data provide an identification-based comparative venomomics resource for VM-V and AM-V and a foundation for targeted validation of candidate V. mandarinia venom-associated components.”

4. 4

   Association between results of component-resolved diagnostics and basophil activation in Hymenoptera venom allergy: A registry-based cross-sectional study in adults.

   PloS one (Piwowarek et al.)Published Jun 17, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Patients were divided into three groups: not qualified for SCIT (n = 27), qualified for bee venom immunotherapy (n = 32), and qualified for wasp venom immunotherapy (n = 95). Serum sIgE to venom extracts and certain components (rApi m 1, m 2, m 3, m 5, m 10; rVes v 1, v 5) were measured. BAT was performed by flow cytometry assessing CD63 expression.ResultsModerate correlations were found between BAT results and sIgE to rApi m 1 (rho = 0.495; p ConclusionsAmong the examined variables, the major components Api m 1 and Ves v 5 were the most strongly correlated with specific basophil activation in vitro. The combined use of CRD and BAT may support clinical assessment and facilitate decisions regarding immunotherapy qualification. Further prospective studies are warranted to assess the prognostic and clinical relevance of our findings.”

5. 5

   From 'killer hornets' to economic assets: the roles of hornets in Dehong, Yunnan, China.

   Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine (Yang et al.)Published Apr 25, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Local communities make extensive use of hornets for many purposes: Hornet pupae are consumed as a protein-rich food; venom and nests are applied in folk medicine, and hornets hold ritual and symbolic roles. In addition, hornet rearing practices, including luring, nest tracking, nocturnal transfer, and semi-domesticated management, were systematically documented. Rearing hornets provides ecological services such as pest control and pollination while generating substantial household income through the sale of pupae, venom, nests, and colonies. However, although native hornets can provide such benefits, they may also pose risks by stinging people and preying on honeybees.ConclusionsThis study highlights the unique integration of hornets into the ecological, cultural, and economic life of Dehong's communities. By documenting species diversity and rearing practices, this study lays the groundwork for understanding hornets as both elements of traditional heritage and emerging livelihood resources. The findings highlight the importance of integrating local knowledge and modern management practices for the sustainable use of hornets in agroecosystems and rural mountainous communities.”