Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Great Bentley

Honeybees settling inside a building cause real alarm, yet they need a beekeeper rather than a wasp treatment, so telling them apart matters.

A colony where you do not want one

Honeybees sometimes take up residence in buildings. A chimney, a wall cavity, a gap beneath roof tiles or an unused loft can offer a dry, sheltered space, and a swarm looking for a home may settle there.

The sight of many insects going in and out of a wall is understandably worrying. People call about wasps, but if the insects are honeybees, the right help is different.

Honeybees are important pollinators, and many beekeepers are willing to collect or advise on colonies. Getting the identification right is the first step.

Both honeybees and wasps are widely misunderstood, and both are sometimes described incorrectly by people who see only a blur of yellow and brown. That is not a failing. Even experienced gardeners confuse them from a distance. What matters is making a careful check before you ring, because the wrong call wastes time and, if bees are involved, can lead to a valuable colony being harmed. A few minutes of calm watching, from a safe place, usually provides all the information needed. Look at the insects, listen to the entrance and think about the season before deciding who to contact.

Signs the insects are honeybees

A honeybee colony can be recognised in several ways. The bees are golden-brown and slightly furry, medium in size and plump rather than sleek. They fly steadily, in straight lines, and often carry pollen on their hind legs.

Traffic is orderly. Bees land on the edge of the entrance, walk in, and others leave in a calm stream. They show little interest in food and drink. You may hear a steady, deep hum from the cavity, even in cooler weather.

You might also see bees hovering around the entrance in the afternoon, a behaviour that is typical of young bees learning their way home.

Signs the insects are wasps

A wasp nest looks and sounds different. The insects are slim, smooth and sharply banded, with narrow waists. They dart rather than glide, and some hover briefly at the opening before diving in.

Traffic is faster and more urgent. Wasps are also interested in your food and drink, and in the summer you may find them in the kitchen or at the table. A dry rustling or scratching, rather than a smooth hum, may come from the wall or roof void.

By August a wasp nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more, and the entrance can be very busy. Honeybee colonies are large too, so judge by the insect, not the numbers.

Hearing is a useful tool here. Press nothing against the wall, but if you can hear the hum from a few feet away, note whether it is smooth and even, which suggests honeybees, or scratchy and papery, which suggests wasps. Combine that with the look of the insects, and you will usually be able to say which is which with real confidence.

What to do if it is honeybees

Leave them alone and contact a local beekeeper or bee organisation. Describe the location, how long the bees have been there and whether the entrance is accessible. If the colony is a swarm that settled recently, a beekeeper may be able to collect it quickly.

Do not block the entrance, spray into it or try to smoke the bees out. Blocking can send bees into the building, and any such action may harm a valuable colony.

Keep children and pets away from the entrance in the meantime, and keep nearby windows closed if the bees are entering your home.

Time matters with honeybees. A swarm that has only just arrived may move on within a day or two, but a colony that has built comb will stay. If you have only just noticed the bees, call a beekeeper promptly, because a quick response gives the best chance of a gentle collection. The same speed applies to wasps, whose nests grow quickly through the summer.

What to do if it is wasps

If the signs point to wasps, do not approach the nest. Close any internal doors to the room nearest the entrance, and keep curtains drawn so that insects are not drawn to the glass.

Stings should be washed, the sting removed if visible, and a cold pack applied; call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. A known sting allergy is something to raise with a GP; mention any sting allergy when you ring or fill in the form, and the booking can be prioritised.

When you are ready, arrange treatment. Get in touch on 01245 327274, or send the booking form from the contact page. You pay £90 per nest with one visit guaranteed, with £35 per nest for any more at the same address.

Giving the right information

Whichever call you make, the details you provide are the same: where the entrance is, how high, how long it has been active, what the insects look like and whether any have come indoors. A photograph from a distance, taken with the zoom, helps.

Bookings are taken seven days a week; same-day service is offered for domestic and commercial jobs, all fully insured.

In Great Bentley and the surrounding villages, a technician can attend once the booking is made. If you are unsure whether the insects are wasps or honeybees, say so, and we can help you work it out from your description.

Finally, if you are renting or the building is shared, remember that the right person to authorise work may be someone else, so check your tenancy agreement or ask the building manager before making arrangements.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Great Bentley