Bee Identification

There are several anatomical differences between male and female bees. Nest-building female bees with the exception of Hylaeus have pollen-collecting structures on their hind legs or abdomen. In contrast, all male bees lack pollen-collecting structures. Male bees have seven external abdominal tergites (segments); females have six. Male bees have one more antennal segment (thirteen) than females (twelve), i.e., the scape + the pedicel + ten (F) or eleven (M) flagellomeres.

At the genus or species level, males and females can closely resemble each other in appearance and size or be very different in appearance and size. Males generally appear longer and more slender than females of the same species, have longer antennae, sometimes noticeably so, and usually have bold facial markings (colorful markings or dense clusters of hairs). Female bees have a sting and males do not. Primitive wasps have a combined egg laying and venom-injecting ovipositor. Aculeate wasps, the ancestors of bees have a sting used for injecting venom into their insect or spider prey resulting in paralysis of the prey, and a separate opening at the end of the abdomen for egg laying. Similarly, bees lay eggs from an opening at the end of the abdomen and have a sting used for defending the nest against natural enemies. See the tips and photographs below to help determine if a bee is a male or female.