Honey Bees are social insects that live as colonies in hives that can contain up to 80,000 individuals.  They are very beneficial in pollinating flowers.  Honey bees are about ½ to ⅝ inch long, usually orangish-brown, and have a pale "hairy" appearance.  They are usually not aggressive but they will defend their colony!

Bumble Bees are also beneficial in pollinating flowers but their colonies are much smaller.  Bumble bees range in size from ¼" to one full inch, are black with yellow markings and have a very robust appearance.  Bumble bees get aggressive when their nest is threatened and they're capable of stinging multiple times!

Yellow Jackets are about the same size as honey bees; however, YJ's are very aggressive. YJ's can be distinguished from honey bees by their distinctive black & yellow bands.  They build enclosed paper nests — underground, in wall voids, or fully exposed.  And it's Yellow-Jackets that raid our summer picnics, not Bees!