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Wasp and Bee Species
There may be hundreds of species of wasps, hornets and bees found around the world. Only a few of these are seen as real pests here in Jamaica and some of them do not sting.
Some species, like the Honey Bee, are actually a valuable part of our ecosystem. Understanding their habits, lifecycle and appearance can help to identify the best form of wasp control for your home or business.
See our list below of common species in Jamaica.
Honey Bee
(Apis Mellifera)
Honey bees are the species kept by Bee Keepers.
If you have a problem with honey bees, contact a local Bee Keeper or Environmental Management Department as they will be able to arrange for the swarm to be relocated.
Key Facts
- They live in hollow trees or in chimneys, wall cavities or roof spaces.
- They are similar in size to wasps but are furrier and mostly black in colour.
- Honey bees convert nectar into honey and beeswax.
- A honey bee swarm will arrive in flight and cluster on a tree branch.
- A colony size can often be greater than 30,000 individual honey bees.
- Population under threat from varroa mite.
Yellow Jackets (Social Wasp)
(Vespula)
Appearance
- Worker - 1/2 inch long.
- Queen - 3/4 inch long.
- Alternating black and yellow bands.
- Two sets of wings.
- Narrow waist.
- Lance-like stinger.
Lifecycle
- Annual colonies.
- Queen begins to nest in dry season.
- Aggressive numbers in early rainy season.
- Colonies begin to decline by mid rainy season.
- Only inseminated Queens nest at the end of rainy season.
Habits
- Feeding – at certain times of the year feed on insects including caterpillars / harmful flies, as colonies increase they are attracted to food consumed by humans.
- Sting – sting repeatedly, will sting if provoked with symptoms range from swelling to life-threatening allergic shock.
- Visibility – visible during the day as they don't see well at night.
- Nesting - in trees / shrubs, or internally in attics, hollow walls/ flooring, sheds, under porches/eaves of buildings.
Carpenter Bees
(Xylocopa virginica)
Appearance
- 3/4 - 1 inch long.
- Female faces are black, male faces are yellow.
- Bright yellow, orange or white hairs on the thorax.
- No hair on abdomen.
- Females have a stinger, males do not.
Lifecycle
- Tunnel into wood to lay eggs.
- Life cycle from egg – larva – pupa - adult takes approximately seven weeks.
- Larva is large and noisy.
- New adults emerge from the nest late August.
Habits
- Sting - Only sting if provoked.
- Visibility - Late-spring to mid-October.
- Nesting - Bare, untreated softwoods are preferred, including redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. Old nests are used year after year.
- Location – Nests can be found in eaves, window trims, facia boards, siding, decks and outdoor furniture.
- Feeding - flowers that contain pollen, eg Bradfords, Daffodils, Pansies. Pollen stored in abandoned tunnels.