Because this website has a lot of information about wasps, people often ask me if wasps eat, attack, or kill bees, and if they can even kill a big bumble bee. They also want to know if wasps and bees can get along.
Firstly, its worth noting that bees and wasps are related. However, even though wasps are usually good bugs, bees can get stung by them and even be killed by them.
It’s interesting that some wasp species, like yellow jackets, are always seen as the enemy, even though their attacks on bees might not work as well as those of other wasp species.
Can a Wasp Kill a Bee? Understanding This Complex Relationship
Bees and wasps have a complex relationship. At times they peacefully coexist, while other times wasps prey on bees. So can a wasp actually kill a bee? The short answer is yes, wasps can and do kill bees under certain circumstances.
In this article, we’ll explore the interactions between bees and wasps. We’ll look at why and how wasps attack bees, which species are the biggest threats, and what beekeepers can do to protect their hives. By understanding the predator-prey dynamic between these insects, we can take steps to minimize losses.
Why Would Wasps Attack Bees?
To understand when and why wasps might kill bees, we first need to recognize a key difference in their diets Bees feed solely on pollen and nectar from flowers Wasps, on the other hand, are carnivorous—they eat other insects and arthropods.
Adult wasps feed on nectar and carbohydrates just like bees. However, they hunt prey to take back and feed their larvae. Common victims include spiders, caterpillars, flies, beetles, grasshoppers, and bees.
So why do wasps specifically target bees? Here are some of the main reasons:
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Availability: Bees are numerous, widespread, and active during the daytime when wasps hunt. This makes them easy targets.
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Nutrition: Bees are rich in protein, which wasp larvae need to grow. Their pupae and larvae also make nutritious meals.
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Declining Food Sources: Late summer into fall, flowers start to fade and wasps’ normal prey becomes scarce. Bees become a vital alternate protein source.
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Hive Products: Wasps will raid beehives and steal honey, pollen, and larvae that they can feed to their own developing brood.
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Colony Decline: Weak bee colonies are especially vulnerable to wasp attacks. Wasps can sense distressed hives and take advantage.
Which Wasps Are the Biggest Threats to Bees?
Not all wasps prey on bees with the same frequency or voracity. Here are four wasp species that pose the greatest danger:
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Yellowjackets: These familiar black-and-yellow wasps are responsible for most bee attacks. They’re abundant, aggressive, and keep expanding into new areas.
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Hornets: Giant hornets native to Asia have garnered headlines for coordinated attacks that can destroy honey bee hives. Their painful stings deter bees from fighting back.
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Paper Wasps: Normally docile, paper wasps become fierce predators of honey bees during times of low food supply. They seize adult bees in flight.
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Cicada Killer Wasps: As their name suggests, these wasps target cicadas. But they also carry off bees, as well as rob honey bee nests. The largest wasp in North America, they’re intimidating foes.
How Do Wasps Actually Kill Bees?
When wasps attack bees, they use their powerful mandibles (jaws) to grab, kill, and cut apart their victims. The wasp lands on the bee, secures its grip, and delivers a paralyzing sting directly to the bee’s nervous system. Once defenseless, the bee is dismembered for transport back to the wasp’s nest.
Sometimes wasps mutilate bees at flowers rather than carrying them. They chew off legs, wings, abdomen, and head which they ball up and take home. Not efficient killers, wasps may leave dying bees to slowly perish.
Wasps also exhibit different mass attack behaviors. Yellowjackets surround bees in a swarm, immobilizing them with stings. Giant Asian hornets (murder hornets) coordinate attacks of up to 50 workers that completely overwhelm a hive within hours.
Protecting Bee Colonies from Wasps
Beekeepers in areas with significant wasp activity should take measures to safeguard their colonies. Here are some tips:
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Maintain strong hives of at least 40,000-60,000 bees. More bees means better defense against wasp intruders.
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Keep colonies disease and mite free. Healthy bees handle stress better.
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Ensure adequate food reserves in summer/fall when wasp attacks peak. Well-fed bees are less vulnerable.
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Seal any openings larger than 1⁄4 inch. This blocks wasps but allows bees to still pass.
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Use screened bottom boards to keep wasps out.
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Bait wasp traps with sugary fluids away from hives. Traps reduce local wasp populations.
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Inspect regularly for signs of wasp damage like dismembered bee parts. React quickly to escalating attacks.
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Dust with insecticides if wasp raids are frequent. Focus treatment on exterior frames/landing areas versus entire hive.
The Bottom Line
Wasps and bees epitomize the predator-prey relationship in nature. We can’t eliminate wasps from the environment entirely. However, thoughtful management and preventative measures can help tip the balance in the bees’ favor. Paying attention to seasonal activity patterns, maintaining robust colonies, and using physical barriers and traps will all help minimize wasp impacts. A bit of extra effort will keep both bees and beekeepers safer.
The bee wolf – Philanthus
Philanthus are solitary wasp species known to target a variety of bee species. Females can be quite large, and typically stalk bees as they forage on flowers.
After stinging the bee on the bottom of the thorax, the bee is still alive but paralyzed. The bee wolf then takes its prey to her nest, which is usually a hole in the ground in sandy soil, and puts it inside the entrance to the nest.
After getting about five paralyzed bees together, she lays an egg nearby and seals the opening. The larva that hatches eats the bees that its mother gave it1.
Philanthus triangulum is known to attack honey bee workers the most, but it has also been seen to catch mining bees and nomad bees.
In the US, Philanthus bicinctus (also known as the ‘bumble bee wolf’) targets bumble bees.
One study of Philanthus bicinctus revealed that the presence of the bumble bee wolf resulted in significantly fewer bumble bees in the area, with a knock on effect for flower pollination.
Why do wasps kill or attack bees? Can wasps and bees ever get along?
Wasps and bees may sometimes be seen foraging together, and they may even share a big flower head.
However, the reasons for wasp attacks on bees are
- to get food for themselves (through the food stores the bees keep); or
- to give their young protein-rich food in the form of dead bees and/or their larvae, or
- In some species of cleptoparasitic wasps, it’s also to find a host to live in and feed a larva.
Here we’ll look at:
- the bee wolf, Philanthus;
- the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris; and
- the cuckoo wasp of the family Chrysididae.
What is the Difference Between Bees, Wasps, and Hornets?
FAQ
Is a wasp worse than a bee?
How do bees defend themselves from wasps?
What do wasps kill?
Should you save wasps?
Can a wasp kill a bee?
Wasps are generally beneficial insects, and yet bees can indeed fall prey to wasp attacks and may even be killed by wasps. It is interesting that some species of wasp (usually yellow jackets) are the most likely to be seen as the undoubted enemy, and yet its attacks on bees may not be successful, whereas other wasp species can be far more deadly!
Can a bee sting be fatal?
No, usually bee sting is not fatal. It cause mild to moderate allergic reactions such as redness in the area, pain, muscle stiffness, inflammation in the area of sting etc. But in patients with severe allergies or in immunocompromised patients, it can lead to severe allergic reactions. Also, in case of multiple bee stings or repeated bee stings, it can lead to anaphylaxis and sudden death.
Do wasps attack bees?
Wasps don’t always attack bees. When there is enough food for both bees and wasps, they tend to get along fine. In fact, you may have noticed wasps and bees exploring flowers side-by-side without interaction, both collecting nectar.
Can a wasp attack a bee colony?
Let me tell ya, wasps can wreak havoc on a bee colony. They’ll snatch bees right outta the air, raid honey stores, and even go after the brood. I’ve seen strong hives get seriously weakened by persistent wasp attacks. It’s not just about losing bees – the stress can make the whole colony more susceptible to disease.
Did a wasp decapitate a hapless honey bee?
Wasp starting to decapitate a hapless honey bee a few yards from some very busy hives I was watching a wasps as it rested on a wooden upright support, near to the above busy hives. It was nonchalantly cleaning itself. Later I realised it was actually watching a honeybee just a few inches away that was also cleaning itself.
How many wasps can kill a hive in a day?
As any beekeeper knows, maintaining a healthy hive is no small feat, and unwanted visitors like wasps can really sting your efforts. Did you know that a single wasp can kill up to 40 honey bees in a day? That’s a sobering statistic that underscores the importance of wasp prevention in beekeeping.