Bees can easily be confused with other insects
including other Hymenoptera ('wasps') or mimic insects.
Below are different steps to make sure that your insect is a bee.
including other Hymenoptera ('wasps') or mimic insects.
Below are different steps to make sure that your insect is a bee.
1. Bees have 4 membranous wings
(a pair anterior wings (1) with 8 or 9 main closed cells, and a pair of posterior wings (2) smaller).
If your insect has only 2 wings, if it has sclerified wings (elytra), or no wing, then it is not a bee.
2. Bees have antennae with 12-13 segments
(the long scape (1), the pedicel often short (2), and 10 or 11 flagellum segments more or less elongated).
If your insect has antennae with more (or less) than 12 or 13 segments, then it is not a bee.
3. Bees have straight inner margins of their eyes
(or at most slightly curved).
If your insect has distinctly emarginate eyes, then it is not a bee
4. Bees have 'suspenders' when seen in lateral view
(their scutum (red) have ventral expansions separating the tegulae from the pronotum).
If your insect has a pronotum reaching the tegulae, then it is not a bee
5. Bees have a wide posterior basitarsus
(distinctly wider than the other tarsal segments).
If your insect have a thin and thread-like posterior basitarsus, then it is not a bee.
OPTIONAL: 6. Bees have plumose hairs
(it may be difficult to see without good equipment).
If some of your insect's hairs look plumose, branched or rugose when magnified, then you can be sure it is a bee.