On Thu, 29 Aug 1996, Maleta, Donald M @ VFL wrote:
 
>  The problem is almost 100% of the people I encounter can't tell the
> difference between a bee and the other critters.
 
And it's so easy -- the big fat ones are bees and the small
stripy ones are wasps -- or is it the other way round? :-)
 
Also, to paraphrase the old British 'Riot Act': "Three or more
bees gathered together in one place shall constitute a swarm."
 
More seriously, it's a real problem if you do an International
Rescue job for hymenoptera.
 
In the UK, I use a few clues that help most people rough-identify
them quickly. Of course this may not work elsewhere, but I think
it works in many places.
 
    The big fat fluffy one's are bumble bees.
 
    If the colours are soft yellow/orange/brown and/or black
    and they're fluffy, they're bees (honey or solitary).
 
    If the colours are bold yellows and blacks and they're _not_
    fluffy, they're wasps (Or hover flies -- sigh!).
 
    Also, if they're bees, the legs are black; if they're wasps,
    the legs are yellow. In good light, I can tell a bee from a
    wasp at about 15 feet by looking at the colour of the 'halo'.
 
    My favourite 'secret' that I tell children (of _many_ ages)
    is that if you see that yellow 'halo' and it's May, it's
    a queen wasp -- Amaze your friends with your *incredible*
    eyesight.
 
Not 100% perfect rules, but usually more than good enough.
 
The usual "where are they; what are they doing?" questions can
sort out most of the rest of the details.
 
Regards, Gordon.
--
Gordon Scott   [log in to unmask]      [log in to unmask] (work)
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Beekeeper; Kendo 3rd Dan; Sometime sailor.  Hampshire, England.