How to identify Wasps

Wasps can be distinguished from bees by their narrow waists and pointed lower abdomens. The waist is called a “petiole” and separates abdomen from the thorax. Adult wasps have membranous wings. They have chewing mouth parts, which is used to create nests from wood fibers, scraped with their hard mandibles and chewed into a pulp. The female wasps have stingers, which is derived from ovipositor, a modified egg-laying organ. In contrast to bees, they have few or no thickened hairs.