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Date: | Thu, 29 Aug 1996 21:42:00 +0100 |
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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)
The Basingstoke Beekeeper (newsletter) [log in to unmask]
<A HREF="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/apis">Embryo Home Page</A>
Beekeeper; Kendo 3rd Dan; Sometime sailor. Hampshire, England.
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