Difference between earth wasps and earth bees

Species definition

First of all, a definition of the term: Earth wasps and Earth bees are not equivalent names. While earth wasps is colloquially referred to as wasps that nest seasonally in the earth, earth bees are actually a zoological generic term. The wasp species that occasionally choose an underground nesting site, i.e. only per season, are the Germans and the Germans in this country Common wasp, rarely also the hornet. The genus of earth bees includes around 100 different subgenera and around 150 species occurring in Central Europe.

To note:

• Earth wasps Colloquial term for wasps that occasionally nest underground
• Earth bees, on the other hand, is the correct generic term - includes around 100 sub-genera

differences

Appearance

The most direct distinction can be made by looking. If you look closely, earth wasps can be clearly identified by their clear black and yellow coloration, their body with little hair and their proverbial, tightly constricted wasp waist. In earth bees, on the other hand, the dark part of the stripe color tends to be brownish to reddish, and they are also clearly hairy. The pollen-covered legs are also a clear indication that you have an earth bee in front of you - because in the In contrast to wasps, they gather together, so they brush the pollen from the flowers with their leg hairbrushes away.

The lifestyle

An essential difference between earth wasps and earth bees is also in their way of life. The wasp species, situationally referred to as earth wasps, all belong to the group of social wasps. So they form a state in which the survival of the species is secured, quasi communist, in a communal division of labor.

Earth bees, also known as sand bees, are always solitary animals, so they live alone. Nevertheless, it can happen that several individual buildings are laid out next to each other. It is rare for two females to live in the same nest, as a flat share, so to speak. That is why earth bees can also buzz out of the ground at one point, but with closer observation, the distances between the individual structures can be made out.

Flight times

Earth bees are active earlier in the year than earth wasps. You can identify them by this as well. Their flight times are mainly between April and June, while wasps only appear en masse from August, when the sex animals are used in the state.