Bees pollinate. Wasps and hornets predate. That single distinction drives the most important decision in Michigan stinging-insect work: BTR treats wasps and hornets, but actively protects honey bees and bumble bees. Correct identification before treatment matters because a misidentified bee colony killed by a wasp-targeted spray is an environmental loss and, in some U.S. states, a regulatory violation. The comparison below covers the four physical tells, the nest types, the behavior differences, and what BTR does with each.
Quick Comparison Table
| Trait | Bees | Wasps | Hornets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Fuzzy, round, robust | Smooth, slender, narrow waist | Smooth, larger than wasps, narrow waist |
| Color | Yellow/black or brown/orange (bumble bee); golden (honey bee) | Bright yellow + black (yellow jacket); brown + yellow (paper wasp) | Black + white (bald-faced) or brown + yellow (European hornet) |
| Nest material | Wax comb (honey bee); soil burrow or grass-tussock (bumble bee) | Paper (chewed wood + saliva) | Paper, gray football shape (bald-faced) |
| Role | Pollinator | Predator (eats other insects) | Predator (eats other insects) |
| Diet | Nectar, pollen | Insects, late-summer sugar (food-aggressive) | Insects, occasionally sugar |
| Sting | Honey bee: once (dies after); Bumble bee: multiple | Repeatedly | Repeatedly |
| Aggression | Defensive only near nest | Defensive; food-aggressive August–September | Aggressive within 6–10 ft of nest |
| What BTR does | Avoids treating pollinating plants; refers to local beekeeper for honey bee colonies | Treats — $209 starting | Treats — $209 starting |
Honey Bees and Bumble Bees: The Pollinator Exception
Honey bees are not pests. They are golden, fuzzy, build wax-comb nests in hollow trees, wall voids, or beekeeper boxes, and pollinate the food supply. If you find a honey bee colony in a wall or chimney, the right call is a local beekeeper (the Southeastern Michigan Beekeepers Association is the regional resource), not an exterminator. BTR will refer the colony to a beekeeper for relocation rather than treat it.
Bumble bees are also pollinators — large, very fuzzy, often with orange or yellow bands. They nest in small underground burrows or grass tussocks and are mild-tempered. BTR's standard policy is to avoid treating bumble bee colonies and to avoid spraying pollinator-attracting plants (flowering shrubs, blooming gardens, fruit trees) during exterior treatment whenever possible.
Yellow Jackets, Paper Wasps, and Bald-Faced Hornets: What BTR Treats
Yellow Jackets
Bright yellow + black, smooth, narrow waist. Ground nests in old rodent burrows, wall voids, soffit cavities. Peak aggression late August. $209 starting, 90-day warranty.
Paper Wasps
Brown + yellow, slender, long legs trail in flight. Umbrella-shaped nests under eaves, on door frames. Less aggressive than yellow jackets. $209 starting.
Bald-Faced Hornets
Black + white (not a true hornet — technically a large yellow jacket). Gray football-shaped nests in trees and on eaves. Aggressive within 6 to 10 feet of nest. $209 starting.
Read the full BTR stinging-insect service page for treatment process detail, the wasp removal cost guide for what each service includes, and the spring prevention guide for the cheapest move (early-season nest knock-down).
Carpenter Bees: The Wood-Damage Exception
Carpenter bees look like large, mostly-black bumble bees (sometimes with a yellow patch on the thorax). They are technically bees but they drill into wood — fascia boards, decks, gutter runs, wood accents — rather than pollinate gardens primarily. BTR treats carpenter bees because of the structural damage they cause. $255+ for properties under 4,000 sq ft, 90-day warranty.
Why Correct ID Matters
Most "wasp" calls BTR receives are actually paper wasps or yellow jackets. A small number are honey bee or bumble bee colonies that the homeowner mistook for wasps because of the yellow-and-black coloring. The cost of misidentification cuts both ways:
- Killing a honey bee colony is an environmental loss and, in many cases, an avoidable one. A beekeeper can relocate the colony at low or no cost.
- Leaving a yellow jacket nest untreated because you thought it was honey bees gives the colony another month to grow from a few hundred workers to 4,000 to 5,000.
If you are unsure, take a photo from a safe distance (zoom rather than approach) and send it to BTR. A technician will give a preliminary identification at no cost and recommend the right next step — treatment, beekeeper referral, or just leave it alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell a bee from a wasp?
Bees are fuzzy and round, wasps are smooth and slender with a narrow "wasp waist." Bees pollinate (build wax-comb nests, eat nectar and pollen); wasps and hornets predate (build paper nests, eat insects and late-summer sugar). The single fastest tell is the body texture: visibly fuzzy means bee, visibly smooth means wasp or hornet.
Is a yellow jacket a wasp or a hornet?
A yellow jacket is a wasp, not a hornet. The "bald-faced hornet" is technically also a wasp (a large yellow jacket species), despite the name. True hornets in the U.S. are mostly European hornets and the invasive northern giant hornet (very rare in Michigan).
Does BTR kill honey bees?
No. BTR refers honey bee colonies to local beekeepers for relocation rather than treating them. Honey bees are pollinators and many Michigan beekeeper associations will collect a swarm or wall colony at no cost. BTR's role is identification and referral.
What about bumble bees?
BTR's standard policy is to avoid treating bumble bee colonies. They are pollinators, generally mild-tempered, and live in small short-lived colonies in soil burrows or grass tussocks. If a bumble bee nest is in a high-traffic location and treatment is necessary for safety, BTR addresses it case-by-case after inspection.
Why are carpenter bees treated when other bees are not?
Carpenter bees drill into wood across the structure rather than pollinating gardens primarily. The structural damage to fascia boards, decks, and wood accents is real and accumulates year over year. BTR treats carpenter bees at $255+ for under-4,000 sq ft properties with a 90-day warranty.
Are bald-faced hornets dangerous?
Yes. Bald-faced hornets sting repeatedly, defend their nest aggressively within 6 to 10 feet, and a mature nest can hold 400 or more adults. They are the most aggressive stinging-insect species commonly seen in Michigan yards. Do not approach the nest; call BTR.
Will BTR spray my flowering plants for wasps?
BTR's exterior treatment is designed to avoid pollinator-attracting plants whenever possible. The technician will identify flowering shrubs, blooming gardens, and fruit trees during inspection and apply product so that pollinators are not directly contacted. If a target wasp nest sits on a flowering plant, the team works with the homeowner to find the safest approach.
Not Sure What's Buzzing?
Send a photo for free ID. BTR treats wasps and hornets and protects bees.
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