Some people call all stinging bees, bees. Some are wasps, some are yellow jackets and some are the bees that make honey.
I knew it was a honey bee because the stinger and part of the behind stayed in my neck. Honey bees loose their stingers in this manner and die. A wasp or yellow jacket can sting many times.
We had a strange abundance of honey bees flying around the playground at school today.