Bees and Wasps Use Simple Rules To Create Complex Nests, Study Finds

Bees and wasps are both members of the order Hymenoptera, which also includes ants, sawflies, and horntails. They are among the most diverse and successful groups of insects, with over 150,000 species described worldwide. Bees and wasps have many similarities, such as having wings, stingers, and social behaviors.

However, they also have many differences, such as their diets, lifestyles, and appearances. In this article, we will explore some of the common and uncommon characteristics of bees and wasps, as well as some of the amazing architectural tricks that they have independently invented. 

Bees vs. Wasps: How to Tell Them Apart

(Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the easiest ways to tell bees and wasps apart is by looking at their bodies. Bees are usually hairy, while wasps are smooth and shiny, as per Britannica.

Bees use their hairs to collect pollen from flowers, which they use to make honey and feed their larvae. Wasps are mostly carnivorous or scavengers, feeding on other insects or animal matter.

Bees also have a more robust and rounded body shape, while wasps have a slender and narrow waist that separates their thorax and abdomen.

Another way to distinguish bees and wasps is by looking at their nests. Bees typically build their nests from wax, which they secrete from glands in their abdomen.

They use wax to form hexagonal cells that store honey and house their larvae. Wasps build their nests from various materials, such as wood fibers, mud, or plant stems.

They chew these materials and mix them with saliva to form a papery substance that they use to construct cells or chambers for their larvae.

Bees and wasps also differ in their social behavior and life cycle. Most bees are solitary, meaning that they live and nest alone or in small groups.

Only a few species of bees are social, such as honeybees and bumblebees, which form large colonies with a queen, workers, and drones.

Social bees communicate with each other using pheromones, sounds, and dances. Wasps are more diverse in their sociality, ranging from solitary to eusocial (the highest level of social organization).

Some wasps live alone or in small groups, while others form large colonies with a queen and workers. Social wasps communicate with each other using pheromones, sounds, and visual signals.

Also Read: Study Shows that It May Take a Few Generations Before Bees Recover from a Single Exposure to Insecticide

Bees and Wasps: How They Converged on Similar Architectural Tricks

Despite their differences, bees and wasps have independently evolved some similar architectural tricks that help them build efficient and stable nests, as per Phys.org.

One of these tricks is the use of hexagonal cells or chambers for their larvae.

Hexagons are the optimal shape for maximizing space and minimizing material in a honeycomb-like structure.

Hexagons also have high strength and stability compared to other shapes, such as squares or triangles.

Another trick that bees and wasps have independently invented is the use of spiral patterns for arranging their cells or chambers in their nests.

Spiral patterns allow for the optimal packing of cells or chambers in a circular or cylindrical space.

Spiral patterns also facilitate the ventilation and temperature regulation of the nest by creating air currents that flow through the gaps between the cells or chambers.

Bees and wasps have also independently developed some unique architectural tricks that reflect their specific needs and preferences. For example, some bees build nests that resemble pots or urns made of mud or resin.

These nests protect the larvae from predators and parasites by having a narrow opening that can be sealed with wax or resin. Some wasps build nests that resemble umbrellas or cones made of paper or plant fibers.

These nests provide shelter from rain and sun by having a roof-like structure that covers the cells or chambers.

Bees and wasps are remarkable insects that have adapted to various environments and challenges by evolving diverse and ingenious ways of building their nests.

By comparing and contrasting their characteristics and behaviors, we can learn more about their evolution, ecology, and interactions with other organisms.

Bees and wasps are also important pollinators and predators that play vital roles in maintaining the balance of nature.

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