Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Henham on the Hill

For a household with a sting allergy, a nest is a more serious worry, so quick identification and sensible planning take on extra importance.

Why a nest feels more serious

For most people a wasp sting is painful but passes. For someone with a known allergy, any sting is a worry, and a nest in the garden or roof can make everyday life tense. Children play outside, a washing line is near the shed, a back door opens within a few metres of an entrance.

If this describes your household, the points below are for you. They are about planning and prevention, not medical treatment, which should always come from a doctor.

The aim is to reduce the chance of an encounter while the nest is dealt with.

Many allergic people lead entirely normal summers, helped by planning. The suggestions here are not meant to frighten. They are simply the sort of sensible steps a careful household would take, and they are best put in place before a problem arises rather than after.

Identify early

Knowing quickly whether you have wasps or bees saves precious time. Wasps are slim, smooth and boldly striped, with a narrow waist, and they dart around food and drink. Bees are round and furry and stay with flowers.

If you are not sure, take a photograph from a safe distance and describe the entrance and the traffic. Do not take risks to find out.

Honeybees and bumblebees can also sting, so if the household has a sting allergy, keep away from bees too, and contact a local beekeeper or bee organisation if a colony is near.

One of the hardest things for an allergic person is not knowing. A buzzing insect near the head could be anything. Learning to tell wasps from bees, and hoverflies from both, removes much of the mystery. Hoverflies, for example, have large eyes, very short antennae and one pair of wings, and they cannot sting.

Tell us when you book

The client's advice is to say so when you book if anyone in the household, or a family member, is allergic to wasp stings. That allows the booking to be prioritised. It is far better to mention it at the start than to leave it unsaid.

We do not promise a particular response time, but a note about an allergy is taken seriously, and the booking team will bear it in mind.

Give a clear description of where the nest is and how close it is to doors, windows and play areas.

If the booking team knows about an allergy, they can take it into account when arranging the visit. You do not need to give medical detail, only to say that someone is allergic. Mention also whether the allergic person will be at home on the day, so the technician can plan how to approach the nest.

Keep the booking details to hand, and make sure that more than one adult in the household knows when the visit is arranged, in case plans change at short notice.

Reducing risk until treatment

While you wait, take a few common-sense steps:

• Keep the allergic person away from the part of the garden or house near the nest.
• Keep doors and windows near the entrance closed.
• Cover food and drink outdoors, and keep bins tightly lidded.
• Wear shoes outdoors and check cups and cans before drinking.
• Keep children and pets back from the area.
• Walk away calmly if a wasp approaches. Do not swat.

Speak to a GP about any known allergy, and follow their guidance about what to carry and what to do in an emergency.

Think about everyday routines. Is the washing line near the nest? Does the dog's kennel sit beneath the eaves? Does the route from the car to the front door pass the entrance? Small changes, such as parking elsewhere or using a different door, can reduce exposure for a few days without much inconvenience.

If a sting happens

Stay calm and move away from the area. Wash the sting site, remove a visible sting and apply a cold pack. For anyone with a known allergy, follow your doctor's plan.

Dial 999 at once for any swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing, trouble breathing, dizziness or a rash across the body. Do not wait to see whether symptoms improve.

We are not able to give medical advice or advise on medication, so please rely on your GP and emergency services for that.

Consider also telling close neighbours, friends and anyone who looks after the children that there is a nest and an allergy in the household. A short message means that everyone knows to keep clear of the area, and to take a sensible response if a wasp approaches.

Arranging the visit

When you have identified wasps, Dial 01245 327274 or request a visit through the contact page form. Each nest is treated for £90 and the visit is guaranteed as one visit, and a further nest at the same site is charged at £35 per nest.

The service is available seven days a week; householders and business owners can both book, with same-day service offered and full insurance.

In Henham on the Hill and the surrounding villages, the technician can visit once the booking is made. On the day, keep the allergic person indoors and well away from the area until the technician says it is safe.

After treatment, the technician will explain when it is safe to use the area again. Follow that advice carefully, and keep a watch for any wasps returning from foraging, which may circle the old site for a short time. If you notice continuing activity, tell us.

Do not hesitate to ring again if circumstances change, for example if a second entrance appears or someone in the household is stung. Early information is always welcome.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Henham on the Hill