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

A wasp colony follows a predictable yearly pattern, quite unlike that of honeybees or bumblebees, and knowing it helps you judge timing.

A nest begins small

Wasps start building nests from late April, depending on the weather. In the earliest weeks a nest is tiny, often no bigger than a golf ball, tucked into a gap in the eaves, a shed, a bush, a hole in the ground or a loft. It is easy to miss, and only a few insects are involved.

During this stage the wasps are busy hunting other insects and building paper cells for their young. You may notice a single wasp visiting a wall or fence again and again. That is a good moment to pay attention, because a small nest is the simplest to deal with.

Bees at the same time are just getting going on spring flowers.

Honeybees and bumblebees run to quite different calendars, which is part of how you tell them apart. Each paragraph below sets out a stage of the wasp year, with a note on what the bees are doing alongside it.

Growing through early summer

Through May and June the colony expands quickly. More workers hatch and take over the building and foraging. The nest grows from a golf ball to a cricket ball, then to something much larger, and traffic at the entrance increases.

At this point the nest begins to affect the household if it is near a door, window or path. Insects fly into rooms, and gardens become more risky for children and pets.

Honeybee colonies grow in this period too, and swarms may appear. Bumblebee nests develop in parallel but stay small. The comparison helps: if the colony is expanding fast and the insects are slim and smooth, it is likely to be wasps.

Honeybee colonies follow their own calendar. They are active for much of the year, cluster together in cold weather and expand in spring, with swarming in late spring or early summer as the old colony splits. A wasp nest, by contrast, belongs to a single season. It begins in spring, peaks in August and then breaks up in autumn, with nothing left to see after the colony has finished.

The August peak

By August the nest reaches its maximum. A colony can contain from 2,000 to 10,000 wasps or more, and the entrance can be extremely busy. Workers need less protein by now and seek sugar, so they appear in large numbers at drinks, fruit and bins.

This is the time of year when most people notice the problem, and also when it is most risky to disturb. A nest at its peak can send out a large swarm if threatened.

The peak is also when identification mistakes are most common, since bees are active too. Use the shape, surface and behaviour checks described elsewhere, and keep your distance.

The decline in autumn

As autumn arrives the colony starts to fade. The workers lose direction, the food supply thins, and many die off. Wasps seem more erratic and may wander into houses. This leads some people to think the problem has got worse, when in fact it is nearing its end.

A nest does not need to be left to die naturally if it is in a risky place. Treatment is still possible and may be worthwhile if the nest is by a door or in a space people use.

Bumblebee colonies also decline in autumn, and honeybees prepare for winter. Do not assume that all the insects you see are from the same cycle.

A practical point follows from this. If you are watching a nest in October that has gradually become quieter, it may well be near the end of its cycle. A nest that is still busy in a place people use is another matter, and it can still be treated. Do not assume that cooler weather has solved the problem unless the traffic has stopped altogether.

What this means for timing

Early action is simplest, but there is no wrong time to act on a nest that is in a risky spot. Use the year as a guide:

• April to May: look for a lone wasp visiting a gap.
• June to July: watch for traffic building at a single point.
• August: expect peak numbers and the greatest risk.
• September to October: expect decline, but keep clear of the nest.

Whatever the month, do not disturb the nest. After a sting, wash the skin, flick out a sting you can see and hold something cold on it; ring 999 if the face, lips or throat swell, breathing becomes difficult, or dizziness or a widespread rash appears.

Booking

When you are sure you have wasps, Ring 01245 327274, or use the online booking form on the contact page. One nest is a flat £90 with one visit guaranteed, and each further nest on the same property is £35 per nest.

Visits run seven days a week; homes and commercial premises are both covered, and the work is fully insured. A known sting allergy is something to raise with a GP; please say if anyone is allergic when booking, as that allows the visit to be prioritised.

If your insects are honeybees or bumblebees, a local beekeeper or bee organisation can help, as we treat wasp nests only. In Wrabness the same technician covers the village and surrounding area.

Booking early in the season is never wasted. A small nest is dealt with at the same fixed price as a large one, but the risk to the household is lower, and you avoid weeks of worry about when it might become a problem.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Wrabness