The term “meat bee” is a common, though biologically inaccurate, nickname used to describe the Yellowjacket, a type of social wasp (species in the Vespula and Dolichovespula genera). These insects are notorious for aggressive scavenging, especially during late summer and fall, when they are attracted to human foods like meats and sugary drinks. Understanding their identity and life cycle is key to effectively managing their presence around outdoor activities.
Identification: They Are Wasps, Not Bees
The insects commonly called “meat bees” are wasps belonging to the family Vespidae, not true bees (Apidae). Yellowjackets are visually distinct from fuzzy, robust bees like honey bees. They possess a sleek, hairless body that appears varnished and shiny, with vivid black and yellow bands. A defining trait is the narrow constriction between the thorax and abdomen, often described as a “wasp waist.” Yellowjackets are typically about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch long, exhibiting a quick, darting flight pattern.
The Scavenging Diet That Earned the Name
Yellowjackets are social predators that build annual colonies starting in the spring when a single queen emerges. During early and mid-summer, the colony focuses on protein to feed developing larvae. Worker wasps forage for sources like caterpillars, spiders, and carrion, which they bring back to the nest. The larvae produce a sugary secretion that the adult workers consume, providing the adults with energy. As the season progresses into late summer and early fall, the queen stops laying eggs and larval production slows significantly.
This shift means adults lose their internal sugar source, causing the large worker population to aggressively seek external carbohydrates. Consequently, they become a nuisance at picnics and barbecues, actively scavenging for sugary drinks, ripe fruit, and meat scraps, earning them the “meat bee” moniker.
Stinging Behavior and Human Safety
Yellowjackets are considerably more aggressive than most bees and readily attack when their nest is disturbed or when they perceive a threat while foraging. Yellowjackets do not have a barbed stinger, unlike the honey bee, and this anatomical difference allows a Yellowjacket to sting repeatedly without dying. An additional danger is that an injured or stinging Yellowjacket releases an alarm pheromone, a chemical signal that recruits other workers to join the attack. These multi-sting attacks increase the risk of a severe allergic reaction, and Yellowjackets are responsible for more stings on humans than any other type of bee or wasp.
Techniques for Management
Reducing interactions with scavenging wasps focuses on eliminating their access to food and shelter, particularly during the late-season population surge. When eating outdoors, all food and drinks should be covered tightly, and spills, especially sugary liquids, must be cleaned up immediately. Pet food should not be left outside, and garbage cans must have tight-fitting lids to prevent foraging. Trapping is an effective control method that can reduce the number of foraging workers near human activity areas. Traps should be baited with protein, such as canned chicken, early in the season when the colony is growing, and then switched to sugar baits, like fruit juice, in the late summer and fall.
If a nest is located near a home or high-traffic area, contact a professional pest control service for removal. Attempting to treat a nest, especially one in the ground or a wall void, can provoke a massive, coordinated attack.