The query of whether bees consume meat, such as chicken, arises from a common misunderstanding of insect identity and diet. True bees, including honey bees and bumblebees, are herbivores and do not seek out or consume animal protein. The insects that frequently appear uninvited at outdoor gatherings, showing interest in grilled meats and sugary drinks, are almost always scavenging wasps, like yellow jackets, which have a fundamentally different dietary biology. The confusion stems from their similar black and yellow coloration, but their behavior and nutritional needs are separate.
The Bee Diet: What True Bees Consume
True bees belong to the clade Anthophila and are defined by their herbivorous diet, having evolved to utilize flowering plants as their sole food source. The two main components of their diet are nectar and pollen, each serving a distinct nutritional purpose. Nectar, a sugary liquid produced by flowers, is collected and converted into honey, functioning as the primary source of carbohydrates for adult bees to fuel their high-energy flight and metabolic needs.
Pollen, the fine, powdery substance also gathered from flowers, provides the colony with virtually all of its protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. This protein source is especially important for the development of bee larvae, which require a high-protein diet to grow rapidly. Adult worker bees mix pollen with nectar to create a substance called “bee bread,” which is then fed to the developing young. Bees possess a rounder, hairier body structure that is highly effective at collecting and transporting pollen.
Identifying the Visitor: Bees Versus Scavenging Insects
The insect exhibiting interest in your chicken is likely a scavenging wasp, such as a yellow jacket or hornet, which can be easily distinguished from a true bee through observation of morphology and behavior. True bees, like honey bees, possess a robust, rounded body with a dense covering of hair, giving them a fuzzy appearance that aids in pollen collection. Their coloring is typically a duller yellow or brownish-gold, and their legs are often visibly flattened for carrying pollen.
In contrast, scavenging wasps have a smooth, shiny body with little to no hair, giving them a sleek, almost plastic-like appearance. A defining characteristic is the very narrow connection between the thorax and the abdomen, often referred to as a “wasp waist,” which is visually distinct from the bee’s continuous body shape. These wasps also display a brighter, more vivid yellow and black pattern and are generally more aggressive, often flying in an erratic, hovering pattern when near food. A honey bee stings defensively and dies after a single sting due to its barbed stinger, while wasps can sting repeatedly without injury.
Why Scavengers Are Attracted to Protein and Sugar
The attraction of wasps to human food sources like chicken is rooted in their life cycle and the nutritional requirements of their colony. Yellow jackets and other social wasps are opportunistic omnivores and predators, not herbivores like bees, and their diet shifts seasonally. In the spring and early summer, the colony is rapidly growing, creating a significant demand for protein to feed thousands of developing larvae.
Worker wasps actively forage for this protein, hunting insects or scavenging meat from carrion, pet food, and discarded human food like chicken and burgers. The worker then chews the protein into a paste before feeding it to the larvae, which in turn secrete a sugary fluid that the adult wasps consume for energy. As the season progresses into late summer and early autumn, the colony stops producing new larvae, and the adult wasps’ dietary focus shifts entirely to high-energy carbohydrates. Without the larvae to provide a sugar reward, the adult wasps begin aggressively seeking out easy sources of sugar, such as fruit, soda, and sweet drinks, leading to the familiar nuisance at picnics.
Keeping Scavenging Insects Away From Food
When dining outdoors, a few proactive steps can effectively discourage scavenging wasps without causing them harm. The most straightforward strategy is the covering of all food and beverages, especially grilled meats and sugary drinks, as the insects are attracted by scent. Promptly clearing away dirty dishes and food scraps, and sealing them in a waste container with a tight-fitting lid, removes the primary attractants from the area.
For additional deterrence, wasps have been shown to avoid certain strong scents, which can be leveraged to create a less appealing environment. Placing small dishes of cloves or bay leaves near the food area can act as mild deterrents. Since wasps are territorial, some people find success using a fake nest decoy hung nearby, which may trick the insects into avoiding the area they perceive as already occupied by a rival colony.