Wasps tend to be narrow-waisted with smooth, slender bodies, while bees are plumper and hairier, with fuzz covering part or all of their bodies and legs. Wasps have distinct black and bright yellow bands around their abdomens, while bees are more of a non-descript light brown or yellowish-brown color.

The principal biological difference between bees and wasps is that bees (except for parasitic bees) provide their young with a mixture of pollen and honey, but wasps feed their young insects or spiders. Also, whereas wasps are covered with unbranched hairs, bees have at least a few branched or feathered hairs to which pollen often clings.

There is a great deal of variation among these insects. Broadly speaking, and with some exceptions, bees have round bodies and flattened back legs. They are often fuzzy, which helps them collect and hold pollen when they visit flowers. Wasps tend to have skinny waists and streamlined bodies and legs, which are perfect for swift hunting.

Bees, wasps, and hornets are winged insects in the order Hymenoptera. Bees differ from wasps because they are fuzzy creatures with striped yellow or black bodies. Wasps typically have hairless bodies, a slenderer appearance, and a thin waist. Hornets are a species of wasp but are significantly larger and more aggressive.