What key physical trait distinguishes a yellowjacket from a honey bee?
Answer
Yellowjackets have a smooth, less hairy body
The most significant difference when comparing a yellowjacket to a honey bee relates to body hair and texture. Honey bees, due to their function as primary pollinators, are covered in dense, branching hairs specifically designed to effectively collect and transport pollen grains. In sharp contrast, yellowjackets possess a distinctly smooth and shiny exoskeleton, having only minimal fine setae (bristles) but entirely lacking the thick, pollen-catching fuzz associated with bees. This difference in body surface texture is a critical identifier in field observation.
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