.. rst-class:: bee-header Who am I? Bee and Near Bee Identification ----------------------------------------- .. qa:: What is the order called for insects with 4 wings? `Hymenoptera` which include bees, wasps and ants. .. qa:: What are the distinct anatomic identification criteria of the order Diptera? Two wings - the prefix “di” means two .. qa:: In Diptera, what is the name of the diminutive set of wings that are no longer functional wings and what is the significance? Halteres. They are significant because they provide balance. .. qa:: What is mimicry in insects and why is it important? (Example black and yellow coloring). Flies (Diptera) imitate stinging Hymenoptera as a defense mechanism. An example is the Robber fly which is a bee predator. .. qa:: What are the common names of the family `Vespidae`? Paper wasps, yellow jackets, European hornets .. qa:: What are some of the characteristics of paper wasps? Longitudinally folding wings, slender bodies, open paper comb nests and a very pronounced pediole, (a pediole is a slender abdominal segment joining the rest of the abdomen to the thorax which allows the abdomen to move back and forth). Paper wasps are social and population is usually small. Paper wasps (Polistes sp.) are long-legged, reddish-brown to black insects with slender, spindle- shaped abdomens. They may have differing degrees of yellowish or brown striping, and they can vary in size. Paper wasps are commonly confused with mud dauber wasps, which are dark blue or black metallic colored wasps that build mud nests and are not prone to sting. Adult paper wasps typically prey on caterpillars and are considered quite beneficial. However, they will sting in defense of their nests. .. qa:: What are some of the characteristics of the Yellow Jacket? Very pronounced yellow and black coloration. Hornets and bees are not so specifically yellow and black. Yellow jackets are small, less than 1 inch, make large perennial, subterranean colonies (thousands to 10’s of thousands). They are insect carnivores Yellow jackets are small wasps with distinct yellow and black markings. They are very agile flyers, and they construct nests made of paper, usually within a cavity or void. Common locations for nests are in lawns, particularly in sandy exposed areas, as well as at the bases of trees or shrubs. In wooded areas, they are common in rotted logs or stumps. Occasionally, yellow jackets will nest in attics or wall voids of houses or storage buildings. Cinder block openings are another common place they have been known to inhabit. Small holes leading to large, covered cavities are ideal for yellow jacket nest sites .. qa:: What are some of the characteristics of the European hornet? A non-native introduced large hornet with a reddish-brown and yellow striped body with a mahogany-brown head and thorax. The European hornet was the only true hornet found in the United States. Lately there have been two hornets found in Washington (Asian hornet) and Savannah (Yellow Legged hornet). They nest are typically built in hollow trees, but can also be found in barns, sheds, attics, and wall voids of houses. They are usually not noticed until the colony has reached a large size. .. qa:: What are some of the characteristics of the bald-faced hornet? They are related to a yellow jacket with pronounced black and white coloration and not a true hornet. Unlike other yellow jackets, bald-faced hornets make egg or pear shaped, arboreal nests (above ground). Bald faced hornets are like yellow jackets but bigger and body coloration can vary. They have longitudinal folding wings and are nearly hairless. They can be aggressive when protecting their nests. .. qa:: What are identifying features of the Giant Asian Hornet (`Vespa mandarina`)? Very large, 2 inches long, voracious predators of honey bees. There have been no sightings since 2021 and are considered eradicated from the US and Canada. .. qa:: What are the identifying features of the yellow legged hornet? Strong yellow stripe on the fourth abdominal segment and yellow color found on the bottom half of the legs. .. qa:: What is the significance of the yellow-legged hornet and where are they currently located? They are predator of honey bees, and located to date on the east coast of Georgia, specifically Savannah. .. qa:: What are the common names of the family `Specidae`? Mud daubers, digging wasps, sand wasp, thin waisted wasp .. qa:: What are characteristics “Specid” wasps? They are carnivores with very few hairs on body. Wings do not fold longitudinally Predators of other insects (crickets, grasshoppers) Wing fluttering behavior .. qa:: What identifies a cicada killer (a sphecid wasp)? 4 wings- so not a mimic Constricted abdomen- not a saw fly No scopa- no pollen carrying apparatus No longitudinally folding wings Large Size and colorization= cicada killer These insects are closely related to ants, bees, and other Hymenoptera. The cicada killer draws the attention of many people due to its large size and habitat preference, such as yards and lawns. The cicada killer is a large black and yellow wasp, ranging from 0.6 to 2 inches long. They have small yellow markings on the thorax, plus six yellow markings on their large abdomen, three on each side. Their heads and wings are reddish colors. .. qa:: What are scopa? Pollen carrying apparatus found on true bees Hairs or leg processes for carrying pollen; majority are parallel hairs and are called combs Scopa comes from the Latin word for “broom” .. qa:: What is a corbicula? A leg scopa with a concave tarsum, combs and pollen press Unique for honey bees and bumble bees If it has a Cubiculum- it is either a honey bee or bumble bee .. qa:: What are some of the characteristics of squash bees? Solitary Live in ground Only feeds on squash, pumpkins, gourds Looks like a honey bee but does not have corbicula- they have hairy legs instead. Has a long slender antenna. No elbow in antennae like the honey bee. Only 2 submarginal wing segments, the honey bee has 3 submarginal segments .. qa:: What are the three defining characteristics of the honey bee that differentiate it from a squash bee? The honey bee has a corbicula, an elbowed antenna, and 3 submarginal cells on wing .. qa:: How do you know the difference between a bumble bee and a carpenter bee? Bumble bees are social- carpenter bees are solitary Carpenter bees drill their tunnels inside solid wood Bumble bees make their social nests underground Carpenter bees have a metallic abdomen (Shiny butt- in SE United States (shiny butt versus hairy butt) Bumble bees have hairy abdomens, Carpenter bees have metallic abdomens Bumble bees have a corbicula Carpenter bees have hairy scopa (no corbicula) Bumble bees are social insects that live in small colonies in the ground. Some of the more common bumble bees encountered around the home and garden are the common Eastern bumble bee Bombus impatiens, the American bumble bee Bombus pennsylvanicus. Bumble bees are large-bodied bees with horizontal black and yellow stripes running across the abdomen. They are longer faced and have a more pronounced proboscis than carpenter bees. The bumble bees have a hairy abdomen, as opposed to the carpenter bee, which has a shiny abdomen. They are not very fast fliers, and they can be clumsy around flowers. Carpenter bees are large, black and yellow bees commonly seen during the spring hovering around porch rails, decks, deck furniture, and underneath the eaves of houses. They can be distinguished from bumble bees in that the carpenter bee has a hairless black abdomen. The carpenter bee is so called because of its habit of excavating tunnels in wood with its strong jaws. They leave a round, half-inch hole in wood boards. There is usually a pile of fresh sawdust and a yellow trail of waste on surfaces below the hole. Wooden decks, overhangs, and other exposed wood on houses are prime targets. Painted and treated woods are less preferred by carpenter bees, but they are still susceptible to attack. Carpenter bees, like their distant relatives the carpenter ants, differ from termites in that they do not consume the wood as food. They simply excavate tunnels for nesting sites. .. qa:: What is the defining characteristic of a mason bee? Only 2 submarginal cells on the wings. Abdominal scopa - which are branched hairs on the underside of the abdomen used to secure pollen loads, and may be very large in appearance. .. qa:: What is the defining characteristic of the sweat bee? Green, small, metallic bees Basal vein is rounded (objective criteria) **Giant Resin bee** Native to Japan and China, it has been introduced to the Eastern United States and Ontario, Canada in recent times. First established in the United States during the early 1990s, records currently exist from most states east of the Mississippi River. It is much bigger than most other leafcutter bees. The body is cylindrical, jaws are large, and wings are transparent, with a brown color that darkens toward the tips. The head and abdomen are mainly black, the abdomen is rather shiny and without hairs, while thorax is covered with dense yellowish-brown pubescence. In males the abdomen is truncated and squared, while in the females it is almost tapered, and pointed. Adults can be found from June to September. These solitary bees are known to make their nests in available holes found in wooden structures or in small crevices between wood boards and often they use cavities belonging to carpenter bees. They do not bore holes into wood. **Blue orchard bee** The blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria) is native to North America and is a highly efficient pollinator of orchards It is a solitary bee species **Spotted Lantern fly** The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has received confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the first detection of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula or SLF), an invasive planthopper that poses a serious risk to the state’s agriculture, was made in Fulton County, Georgia in October. Since 2014, Spotted Lanternfly has spread to 17 states, including Tennessee and North Carolina. Although the Spotted Lanternfly does not pose a direct threat to human health, it feeds on a variety of plants, including grapes, hops, stone fruits, and hardwood trees. Its feeding weakens these plants and produces a sticky, sugary fluid that encourages the growth of sooty mold, further harming crops. .. qa:: What is the order called for insects with 4 wings or “membrane-winged”? Order: `Hymenoptera` which includes bees, wasps, ants and sawflies .. qa:: What is the order for flies and what are the distinct anatomical identification criteria for that order? Diptera which have two wings (forewings only). The prefix “di” = two .. qa:: In the order Diptera, what are halteres and what is their significance? Halteres are modified hindwings and function as gyroscopic organs which provide balance and flight stability. .. qa:: What is mimicry in insects and why is it important? Mimicry is when one species evolves to resemble another. For example, many flies (Diptera) mimic stinging insects (bees and wasps) like those in Hymenoptera. The purpose is protection from predators (Batesian mimicry). Examples include, hoverflies or flower flies (family Syrphidae), and robber flies. .. qa:: What are the common names of the family Vespidae? Paper wasps Yellowjackets Hornets .. qa:: What are characteristics of paper wasps (`Polistes spp.`)? * Longitudinally folded wings at rest * Slender body with narrow waist (petiole) * Long legs that hang during flight * Build open, umbrella-shaped paper nests * Typically small colonies * Behavior: social but less aggressive than yellowjackets * Beneficial predators (feed on caterpillars) * Will sting if nests are disturbed * Common confusion: Often mistaken for mud daubers (which are solitary and less aggressive) .. qa:: What are characteristics of Eastern yellowjackets (`Vespula maculifrons`)? * Bright yellow and black coloration Small (<1 inch) * Highly aggressive * Nesting: Usually subterranean or in cavities * Large colonies (thousands to tens of thousands) * Nests made of paper material * Behavior: Carnivorous scavengers and predators Strong attraction to human food .. qa:: What are characteristics of the European hornet (`Vespa crabro`)? * Large, non-native hornet * Reddish-brown with yellow striping * Mahogany-colored head and thorax * Historically the only established true hornet in the U.S. * Now joined by the yellow-legged hornet in parts of the Southeast * Nesting: Hollow trees, barns, attics, wall voids .. qa:: What are characteristics of the bald-faced hornet (`Dolichovespula maculata`)? * Black and white coloration (not yellow) * Not a true hornet, it’s actually a type of yellowjacket * Traits: Large, enclosed, paper nests * Aerial (arboreal) which are often pear-shaped * Longitudinally folding wings .. qa:: What are identifying features of the giant Asian hornet (`Vespa mandarinia`)? * Very large (up to ~2 inches) * Large orange/yellow head * Predators of honey bees * Status update: No confirmed detections since 2021 * Considered eradicated from the Western U.S. and Canada .. qa:: What are identifying features of the yellow-legged hornet (`Vespa velutina`)? * Distinct yellow band on 4th abdominal segment * Yellow coloration on lower legs (“yellow-legged”) * Dark body overall .. qa:: What is the significance and current location of the yellow-legged hornet? Serious predator of honey bees. Established in coastal Georgia (Savannah area, specifically Chatham, Bryan, Effingham and Liberty counties) as of recent detections Active monitoring and eradication efforts ongoing .. qa:: What are the common names of the family Sphecidae? * Mud daubers * Thread-waisted wasps * Sand/digger wasps .. qa:: What are characteristics of Sphecidae (wasps)? * Solitary (not social) * Carnivorous predators (hunt insects/spiders) * Very few body hairs * Narrow “thread-like” waist * Wings do not fold longitudinally * Behavior: Provision nests with paralyzed prey * Often seen exhibiting wing-flicking or fluttering behavior .. qa:: What identifies a cicada killer (`Sphecius speciosus`)? A cicada killer is a large solitary wasp in the family Bembicidae. Key identifying traits: Constricted “waist” (petiole) which distinguishes it from sawflies No scopa (no pollen-carrying structures) hence not a bee Wings do not fold longitudinally at rest (unlike some vespid wasps) Large size and bold coloration Description: Length: 0.6–2 inches Black body with yellow abdominal markings (typically 3 per side) Reddish-brown wings and head Common in lawns and sandy soils Very docile and not aggressive .. qa:: What are scopa? Specialized pollen-carrying structures found on bees Made of dense, branched hairs (often on legs or abdomen) Function like a “brush” to collect pollen From Latin scopa = “broom” .. qa:: What is a corbicula? A specialized pollen basket found on the hind legs Present only in certain social bees such as honey bees and bumble bees Structure includes: Concave tibia with surrounding hairs and pollen press If a bee has a corbicula, it is likely a honey bee or bumble bee. .. qa:: What are the characteristics of squash bees? * Solitary, ground-nesting bees * Specialist feeders on plants in the genus Cucurbita (squash, pumpkins, gourds) * Similar in appearance to honey bees * Key differences from honey bees there are no corbicula but they do have hairy scopa on legs, long, straight antennae (not elbowed) and 2 submarginal cells in the forewing (honey bees have 3). .. qa:: What are the differences between a bumble bee and a carpenter bee? a. **Bumble Bees** (`Bombus spp.`): * Social (small colonies) * Nest underground * Hairy abdomen * Have corbicula * Slower, clumsy flight * Common species: `Bombus impatiens` (Eastern bumble bee), `Bombus pennsylvanicus` (American bumble bee) b. **Carpenter Bees** (`Xylocopa spp.`) * Solitary Nest in wood (excavate tunnels) * Shiny, hairless abdomen * Have scopa (not corbicula) * Often hover near structures * Signs of activity: Perfectly round entry holes (~½ inch), sawdust below holes, yellowish staining (waste) * Simple rule that distinguishes them: “Hairy butt = bumble bee; shiny butt = carpenter bee.” .. qa:: What are some characteristics of a mason bee (Family Megachilidae, Osmia genus)? * Solitary * Often dark or metallic blue-black color, but some can be lighter * Nest in tunnels and create mud partitions * Excellent pollinators especially for early blooming plants 2 submarginal wing cells * Abdominal scopa (pollen carried on underside of abdomen) .. qa:: What are some defining characteristic of sweat bees (family Halictidae)? * Often small, metallic green or dark-colored bees * Solitary ground nesting * Basal vein strongly arched (key diagnostic feature) * Many are attracted to human sweat and land to drink perspiration for salt * Rarely sting Crucial pollinators with short tongues .. qa:: What are some characteristics Giant Resin Bee (`Megachile sculpturalis`)? * Native to Asia; introduced to North America (1990s) Now widespread in the eastern U.S. * Characteristics: Large, cylindrical body Black abdomen (often shiny, mostly hairless) * Thorax with dense yellow-brown hairs * Transparent brownish wings * Behavior: Solitary Nests in existing cavities (often carpenter bee holes) * Does not drill into wood .. qa:: What are some characteristics of Scoliid wasps (Family Scoliidae)? * Flower wasps, scarab hunters, scarab hawks * Large usually black with orange-red or yellow abdominal markings * Hairy bodied Common, solitary ground nesters * Beneficial parasitoids on scarab beetle grubs (Japanese beetles) * Beneficial pollinators * Not aggressive toward humans .. qa:: What are some characteristics of the Spotted Lanternfly (`Lycorma delicatula``) * Invasive planthopper * Detected in Georgia (Fulton County, 2024) * Spread to many eastern U.S. states * Impacts: Feeds on grapes, hops, fruit trees, hardwoods * Produces honeydew, leading to sooty mold * Weakens plants but does not harm humans directly