What is the difference between a hornet and a wasp: 6 signs, how to identify the type of insect
Everyone knows such insects as a hornet and a wasp. Many people are afraid of them. This fear is well founded. Insects have a sting. The poison is toxic and can cause serious consequences. The hornet is one of the types of wasps, but it has a number of features.
Content
Wasp and hornet: how are they similar
Both types of insects are representatives of stinging insects. Without going into details, they look very similar - yellow-black, buzzing, stinging. Both types of adult insects like to eat sweet and can sting or bite.
But they have a number of differences, ranging from their appearance to their way of life.
Insect Differences
By a number of signs, you can find out exactly which insect is caught, a wasp or a hornet.
The external difference between hornets and wasps
Wasp and hornet, left to right.
The wasp has a clear visible waist and a belly in the form of a cone. The coloration consists of black and yellow stripes. The hornet is larger and rounder. Some individuals do not have black and yellow stripes. They are black and white in color. Sometimes wasps are found wingless.
The size of the largest Asian hornet reaches 5,5 cm. The size of the wasp varies on average within 1,5 - 2,5 cm. Larger dimensions indicate a greater amount of poison. This makes them more dangerous.
The difference between wasp and hornet stings
lifestyle differences
| Characterization | Wasps | Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| How nests are built | The difference is the material used in construction. In the wasp, it consists of thin fibers of trees. Chewing it and wetting it with saliva, it builds the first honeycombs. The nest is made in the form of a round roll of paper having numerous parallel layers. Honeycombs are located at the bottom. Hive of gray wasps. | Hornet builds in the same way. However, it prefers rotted wood fibers and stumps. As a result, the dwelling has a dark brown color. Nests are located on the ceilings of garages, roof eaves, trees, building crevices, window frames. It is worth noting that the European variety of hornets chooses such a place in the ground. |
| Environment and lifestyle | The wasp lives in any territory. But in the northern regions it is quite rare. This is due to the cold climate. Depending on the species, they can live alone or in a colony. | The hornet is ubiquitous. The only exception is the Far North. Insects are inhabitants of the colony and are not found singly. |
| How insects hibernate | Active feeding of wasps contributes to the accumulation of nutrients that they use in winter. They hibernate with the onset of cold weather. Some insects choose tree bark, hollows, old destroyed stumps, cracks in buildings for wintering. During the summer period, the colony lives in the nest. In September, young individuals leave their homes in search of a place to winter. They do not tend to return to the old nest. | Hornets are also engaged in the construction of dwellings and the accumulation of useful substances in the summer. In early autumn, female juveniles leave the nest in search of a male. After the mating period, females hibernate in crevices. The working hornet closes the entrance to the hive and feeds on eggs and laid stock. Severe frost leads to the death of males. The queen remains the only inhabitant of the nest. With the advent of spring, the queen leaves her home, looking for a new place to nest. |
| Features of the diet | Parasitic wasps lay their eggs in other insects. The larvae feed on the bodies of the hosts in the first days of life. An adult wasp can be a scavenger, a predator, or only consume nectar. Taste preferences depend on the type of insect. | An adult hornet eats plant foods in the form of fruits, berries, nectar, juice, and honey. Hornets can safely be called a sweet tooth. Only during the feeding period of the larvae do they become hunters for aphids, locusts, flies, mites, and psyllids. The larvae during this period need protein. |
Conclusion
Wasps and hornets have many common features. However, a number of differences in color, size, lifestyle emphasize the individuality of each insect. The main mission is to destroy a large number of pests and preserve the crop.
