The main reason for understanding what a wasp looks like is to avoid being stung! It is also very important if you are stung to know what kind of insect it was so that you can take the right action. Ways to decide whether it is a honey bee or wasp flying near are discussed below and pictures of wasps and other similar insects are found on the website. Try to become confident identifying honey bees and wasps (both of which can sting) now, while you are safe indoors! Then you will know what it was if you are ever stung. 

The honey bee, bumblebee and wasp have similar flight, buzz and overall appearance. The harmless hoverfly can look superficially like any of the other three because, to avoid being eaten, it mimics the appearance of a stinging bee or wasp. The hoverfly uses a hovering flight different from the other three and does not usually buzz unless wing beats are slower due to being trapped. You may hear a slight whine from fast wing beats

Wasps, honey bees and bumblebees have two pairs of wings while the hoverfly has one pair of wings. While not flying the wasp holds the two pairs of wings together so that they appear to be just one pair of wings. Wasp wings seem very narrow and, at rest, they're held in a very characteristic manner over the back very unlike the wide splayed wings of the hoverfly and bees. You will notice that the eyes of the hoverfly are large like a housefly while the other three have smaller eyes. The antennae of the wasp and bees are very long unlike the hoverfly which has very short antennae. Unlike honey bees, bumblebees and hoverflies the wasp has a very, very narrow waist. This is where we get the word "waspish" to describe a very thin person. The wasp usually has yellow legs and the bees have black legs. Hoverflies can have yellow or black legs.