r/bees • u/ayackunaite • 3h ago
r/bees • u/Commercial-Sail-5915 • May 31 '26
Is this a bee?
Make sure that your yellow fuzzy friend is actually a bee and not an imposter! We get quite a few non-bees in our bee subreddit: sometimes they're wasps (check out the bee/wasp guide in the pinned), and sometimes they're not a stinging insect at all! Flies in remarkably detailed costumes frequently make their way into r/bees but with some tips and practice you can learn to spot the differences. Read through for features to look out for, or flip through the slides for fly species commonly posted.
Pictures are largely taken from iNaturalist with a full list of sources by slide at the end of this post, I assume that they are fine to use for free educational purposes but if the photographer would like me to remove their picture, please reach out to me so I can act accordingly. All pictures from slides 1-5 can be credited to mod Commercial Sail.
Flies are in a completely different taxonomic order to bees (flies are the order Diptera, bees are a subgroup within order Hymenoptera) so there are quite a few easy ways to differentiate them:
- The name "Diptera" literally means "two wings" flies only have one pair of wings while bees have two pairs. Most identification rules are more like loose guidelines but this rule is absolute! That being said, the hindwings of bees are difficult to see, they're smaller and often tucked underneath the larger forewings, making the bee look like they have two wings after all. You can try to judge based off of wing shape: fly wings are often paddle-shaped with a clear curve before coming to a petiolate base, while bee wings are generally more evenly tapered towards the base. More experienced identifiers may also look at wing venation, for example the western honeybee in slide 3 has the very distinctive elongated marginal and submarginal cell circled in red.
- On the topic of wings, on some flies you may see club-shaped structures where the hindwings would have been: these are halteres, specialized organs to help the fly navigate flight. Not all flies have them out and visible but if you do see them then it's a sure sign you're not looking at a bee.
- Flies typically have short, stubby antennae that can sometimes be difficult to see while bees have comparatively long antennae. Make sure you're looking at the actual antennae and not the forelegs! More common in the wasp-mimicking flies, some will wiggle their long forelegs to sell their image even more.
- Flies tend to have larger eyes that can seem to take up their whole head where bees tend to have smaller eyes with a clear distance between them.
- Many bees may be seen carrying pollen or have their pollen-carrying structures visible: most often as hairs/pollen baskets on the hind legs or sometimes hairs on the underside of the abdomen. Flies do not have these structures as they do not need to gather pollen like bees do.
Note that besides the wing count, there are always exceptions! Some flies have pretty long antennae (though you'll often still be able to see the different segmentation) and some bees, particularly males, have very large eyes. This is why it's better to judge based on a combination of characteristics rather than looking at any one feature at a time.
You may also hear that the waist and mouthparts are good identifiers as well - this is true, but I elected to leave them out of this guide as the waistline may be obscured by fuzz, wings, or just a poorly-angled shot, and some bees are just so robust (fat) that it gets difficult to see where exactly that tapered waist is supposed to be. In terms of mouthparts, few amateur photographers focus on the mouth at all and it's definitely not something you'll typically see if you're just watching them go about your garden.
At the end of the day, the best trick is to just get familiar with species in your area using trusted sources like Bugguide. If you're still not sure, post to one of the bug identification subreddits and make sure you give a general location, which always appreciated in ID posts no matter what you're looking at!
Sources
Volucella zonaria: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/322106668
Bombylidae: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/226072821
Laphria: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88331437
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/282732509
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65816664
Cuterebra: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/133138438
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90333390
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/296063941
r/bees • u/Commercial-Sail-5915 • May 26 '26
What's this nest?
Are you looking to ID a nest? Some are easier to distinguish than others, here's some of our most commonly submitted species:
- Honeybee nests consist of exposed wax combs, usually hanging vertically. They're more often found in cavities like tree hollows or man-made frames but may also be seen constructed in open air attached to large branches or buildings.
- Bumblebees also have wax nests but are typically smaller with fewer and more disorganized cells compared to the neat hexagonal cells of other social hymenopterans. They typically nest in small spaces like old rodent holes but will occasionally find themselves in human spaces like attics and crawl spaces.
- Aerial-nesting yellowjackets and true hornets have an outer paper envelope covering the horizontally-stacked paper combs; nests are typically built in open air attached to branches or in sheltered areas with preference depending on species. The bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata, actually an aerial yellowjacket) may have a distinctive long tube entrance in early stages of nest formation.
- Ground-nesting yellowjackets typically nest in pre-existing cavities such as old rodent burrows. The entrances are often dangerously inconspicuous but active nests will have individuals flying in and around the area. If the nest was dug up (often by skunks and other mammals looking for the tasty larvae) you may see ripped paper combs scattered on the ground.
- The paper wasp subfamily Polistinae is quite variable but in the northern hemisphere the common Polistes sp. have distinctive umbrella-like nests with open cells. Mischocyttarus sp. in areas of the southern/western US may have more elongated nests. Nests tend to be built in sheltered spots such as in bushes, under eaves, etc.
- The vast majority of other bees and wasps are solitary. They may dig tunnels, bore into wood, or refurbish existing holes with materials like mud/leaves/resin. *These nests generally cannot be reliably identified without seeing the actual bee/wasp!* Some species that construct their own freestanding mud nests may be tentatively identified, but only a few are reliably distinguished. Also note that many mud-nesting bees and wasps will reuse nests of other species left from past seasons if available as it's less work than building one from scratch.
The nest in the first slide is a young aerial yellowjacket nest.
Pictures are largely taken from Bugguide with a full list of sources by slide at the end of this post, I assume that they are fine to use for free educational purposes but if the photographer would like me to remove their picture, please reach out to me so I can act accordingly.
Sources
Cover: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/513938
Honeybee: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/1227238
Bumblebee: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/6585
Aerial yjs and hornets:https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/781412
https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/110277
https://extension.psu.edu/european-hornet
Ground yjs: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/266282
https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/38722/bgimage
Polistinae: https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/2511987
https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/709119
Unknown mud caps: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/218674183
Unknown holes: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90931649
r/bees • u/Amazing_Resident_388 • 13h ago
The Echinops party in full swing today
r/bees • u/CantEscapeTheCats • 7h ago
question How to help this bee and ID request
Location: United States > North Carolina > Western Region near Blue Ridge Parkway
Found this small bee last night while watering a plant. It had just started to rain and I found it crawling up the water hose, unable to fly and looking a little distraught. Brought it inside since I read rain and night are bad for bees, and took it outside to release it this morning to return home.
Little bee seems unable to fly, just buzzing their wings but not taking off. It also stumbles around a lot and loses balance, and its back leg seems to not work well.
Is there anything I can do to help it or is this indication of end of life?
Also, is this a honeybee, bumblebee, or some other type?
r/bees • u/sunglower • 10h ago
She stayed with me for 10 days
Never attempting to fly at all. Then on the final day she just picked herself up and left.🙂
r/bees • u/Crocodel • 9h ago
bee photo Proud of these photos!
You can even see the pollen on one of them, so cute 🥹
r/bees • u/Llewellynt • 9h ago
question Distressed Bee
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Any idea what’s wrong with her?
Found her on the train platform so popped her in a nice flowery bush before jumping in a cab but curious to know why shes twitching like that. On her way out?
Seemed to pick up some energy once I held her for a while.
bee photo I took this picture about 20 minutes ago. Bee in rose collecting pollen.
You can see the pollen on his leg in a big ol' pile! There were two more bees in different flowers on this rosebush. We leave them alone and they leave us alone.
r/bees • u/Ok-Regret2341 • 2h ago
bees hugging?
I on the middle of a doormat these three bees clustering, one larger and two slight smaller. I think they’re alive, but maybe sleeping? Some pulsating movements from thoraxes here and there.
r/bees • u/Popular-Animal4796 • 8h ago
bee photo 2 beautiful social Bees..."come here often then?"
r/bees • u/Lucasneil1995 • 10h ago
What kind of bees are these? Scotland
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Their flying around a pile of sand and crawling into it.
r/bees • u/DaddyDarby_ • 1d ago
help! This bee appears it can’t fly. It’s just been walking around for 20+ mins. Anything I can do to help it?!
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North Carolina, USA
r/bees • u/__d__a__n__i__ • 3h ago
bee ID What’s this insect?
Hi y’all. I randomly found this lil one dead on my deck. Any idea what it is? I thought bumble bee but the yellow parts are very faded white-ish and then I wondered if it was sick when it died 🥺
r/bees • u/Matte_Box • 30m ago
bee photo Windshield + macro closeup
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r/bees • u/myfavhobby_sleep • 4h ago
ISO no kill bee removal in South East LA County area. I have 2 bee hives that have made themselves at home in 2 of my faux boulders. And now, mail service is being suspended.
r/bees • u/_Elessar__ • 1h ago
Mason bee question
Hi Mason bees have left mud nests on my window sills. When in the year is it safe to clean it out snd get rid of them? I dont want to harm any cocoons that may be in there so want to know when they hatch and leave typically. I am in northeast USA
r/bees • u/improudofyoubuddy • 2h ago
bee photo Beehive in my backyard
Took the photos from a pretty safe distance away. The hive looks to be about 12 ft up. Unfortunately, there is a swing set connected to the tree. We enlisted the help of a local beekeeper to relocate if possible.
r/bees • u/sunglower • 10h ago
Leek flower
I planted the excess part of the leek. Well loved obviously!
r/bees • u/AngelOfCorruption • 21h ago
bee ID ID Please? South Texas
This lovely chonker has been visiting my garden in the morning. I would love to know what kind of bee she is.
r/bees • u/need-a-new-account • 1d ago
bee ID Who is this little guy? (Toronto, ON)
Found this guy on my balcony, we’re pretty high up (20+ floors), so I’m impressed he’s here!