“Meat bees” are a common sight at outdoor gatherings, often hovering around food and drinks. These insects, commonly known as yellowjackets, are well-known for their defensive actions. While yellowjackets possess the ability to bite, their primary and more impactful defensive mechanism involves stinging.
Understanding What “Meat Bees” Are
The term “meat bees” typically refers to yellowjackets, which are social wasps belonging to the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. Unlike fuzzy bees, yellowjackets have smooth, shiny bodies with distinct black and yellow (or sometimes black and white) striped patterns. They also feature a narrow “waist” that separates their body segments, a characteristic not seen in the more robust build of bees.
Yellowjackets are predatory insects, hunting other insects and arachnids to feed their larvae. Adult yellowjackets, however, primarily feed on sugary substances like nectar, fruit, and sweet liquids. Their attraction to human food, particularly meats and sugary drinks, earned them the “meat bee” moniker. This behavior often brings them into close contact with humans, especially in late summer and early fall when their populations peak.
Do They Bite or Sting?
Yellowjackets are capable of both biting and stinging, though their sting is the primary concern for humans. They possess strong mandibles, or jaws, which they use to chew up prey and tear apart food. While they can use these mandibles to bite, a bite from a yellowjacket is generally not their main defensive action against larger threats like humans, nor is it the source of significant pain or allergic reactions.
Their most significant and painful defense is the sting. Unlike honeybees, which have barbed stingers that remain in the skin, yellowjackets have a smooth, lance-like stinger, allowing them to sting repeatedly. The venom contains various proteins and enzymes that cause immediate, severe pain, burning, swelling, and itching at the sting site. For most individuals, these symptoms are localized and subside within hours or days, but for those with allergies, a yellowjacket sting can trigger a severe, potentially life-threatening systemic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Preventing Encounters
Minimizing interactions with yellowjackets requires proactive measures. Keeping food and sugary drinks covered when outdoors is effective. Promptly cleaning up spills and properly disposing of waste in tightly sealed garbage cans also reduces their attraction to an area.
It is advisable to avoid swatting at yellowjackets, as this can provoke them and cause them to sting. Wearing light-colored clothing and avoiding strong perfumes or scented lotions can also help. If a yellowjacket approaches, remaining calm and slowly moving away from the area is recommended. Regularly inspecting outdoor spaces for nests, particularly in the ground, in wall voids, or under eaves, and professionally removing them if found, can significantly reduce the risk of encounters.