You probably know a bee when you see one.

So, it might be useful to know what you’re up against when you do encounter one of these flying critters by learning exactly who’s who. You can spray all the insect repellent you can stand, but in reality, you’re probably going to have to cross paths with one or even all of these pests at one time or another. In a perfect world, you’d go through life never having to interact with one. Unfortunately, some of these flying insects sting too, making the odds of encountering a bee, wasp, or hornet pretty high during the warmer seasons.īut despite the fact that they are all capable of stinging you, bees, wasps, and hornets are actually pretty different. Well, it’s about that time: prime season for winged insects to peruse flowers and backyard barbecues, throwing quite the wrench into our favorite outdoor activities. We updated this article in June 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team. When to see a doctor about bee, wasp, or hornet stings.