Large Yellow-faced Bee vs Yellow Hornet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Yellow-faced Bee Yellow Hornet
Scientific Name Hylaeus signatus Vespa simillima
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Colletidae Vespidae
Size 7-9 mm 21-28 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Europe East Asia, Japan/Korea
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Large Yellow-faced Bee

One of the larger masked bees in Europe with prominent yellow face patches. It is a specialist on wild mignonette and reseda flowers.

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Did You Know?

It depends on brownfield and wasteland habitats that are often viewed as ugly but actually support a rich bee diversity.

Yellow Hornet

Known as 'ke-buchi-suzumebachi' in Japanese, a common hornet in Japan and Korea. Builds large paper nests in trees and under eaves. Less aggressive than the giant hornet but still capable of painful stings.

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Did You Know?

This species is responsible for more wasp stings in Japan than any other species because it frequently builds nests near human habitations.