Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Chislehurst
If you are hosting an event, a short check of the garden a week or two beforehand can spot a nest early and leave plenty of time to arrange a quiet, unhurried visit.
An event raises the stakes
A garden that is perfectly comfortable for the family on a quiet day can become a very different place when thirty people turn up for a christening, a birthday or a wedding reception. Food and drink are outside, children run around, and nobody is on guard for insects. A nest that you could live with becomes a real problem.
If you are planning something at home in Chislehurst, in the London Borough of Bromley, spend a little time on the garden before the day. It is a small task that makes a large difference.
Think about the guests, too. Older relatives and small children are more likely to be alarmed by an insect, and anyone with a sting allergy needs to feel safe. A calm, well-checked garden lets everyone relax and enjoy the occasion.
Weddings and larger parties often involve marquees, flower arrangements and lots of sweet food, all of which draw insects. Choose where the food tables go with that in mind, and keep them as far as you can from any hedge, shed or fence where you have seen activity. It is a small decision that spares a lot of fuss on the day.
A two-week countdown
Two weeks before the event, walk round the garden slowly and look for signs of activity.
- Check the eaves, shed, fence line, hedges and trees from a few metres back.
- Look for insects entering and leaving the same gap in a steady stream.
- Note whether they are smooth and sharply marked, or round and furry.
- Check bare ground and lawn edges for holes with traffic.
- Repeat the walk a few days before the event.
If you find a nest early, there is plenty of time to arrange help calmly.
Include the route guests will take to and from the house, the toilets, the car park and the play area. A nest by a gate or side passage can catch out people who do not know the garden, and a few minutes watching those places gives you peace of mind.
Take a photograph of any suspected spot during your check, and send it to us if you want a second opinion. A picture taken a fortnight before the event also helps if the activity changes and you need to describe how.
Why earlier is better
Wasps start building nests from late April, depending on the weather, in gaps in eaves, walls and chimneys, or in trees, bushes and holes in the ground. The colony keeps growing through the summer until it peaks in August at anything from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps.
A nest that is small two weeks before the event can be much busier by the day itself. Acting early means the area is clear and safe for guests, and the household has time to settle afterwards.
If you hire a marquee, a bouncy castle or a catering team, tell them about any suspected activity in advance. Contractors usually arrive early and work close to hedges and boundaries, which is just where a nest might be.
Do not forget to look at the gutters and the roof edge, where a nest can begin unnoticed. Seen from the ground with binoculars, a steady stream of insects at one point on the roofline is easy to spot even in a large house.
Evening and weekend visits
Many people can only be at home in the evenings and at weekends. We offer appointments at these times, and customers can use the online form for emergency service outside normal office hours. If an event is close and you find a nest, say so when you book.
To arrange a visit, ring Wasp Exterminator Kent on 01622 410 019 or write to us through the online form. A wasp nest treatment comes to a fixed £120 with no call-out charge and one visit guaranteed. A second nest on the same property adds £60 to the bill.
Wasp Exterminator Kent is open seven days a week and offers same-day service. Evening and weekend appointments are offered, and our technicians are fully insured and qualified.
When you ring, tell us the date of the event and what you are planning. We will do our best to fit the visit around your preparations, and we can talk through what is realistic. Early in the week before is better than the day before.
On the day
Even with a nest dealt with, take sensible precautions. Cover food and drink, keep bins closed and away from guests, and use cups with lids for children. Keep well away from a live nest, as wasps may swarm and sting if threatened.
If a guest is stung, give first aid and keep calm.
If someone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if it is visible and use a cold pack. Call 999 straight away if the face, lips or throat start to swell, or there is wheeze, trouble breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. Anyone with a known allergy should check with their GP what to do.
Keep a small first-aid kit within reach, and make sure at least one adult knows where it is. A cold pack in the freezer is a simple thing that can make a stung child much more comfortable.
Bees on the day
Bees visiting the flowers at a garden party are harmless and welcome. Honeybees and bumblebees are valuable pollinators, so the right contact for them is a local beekeeper or bee organisation. Wasp Exterminator Kent covers wasp nests and not bees, and an honest answer is always part of the call.
If anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, tell us at the start of the call so that the booking can be prioritised. If any of your guests has an allergy, make sure they know where the nearest door is and where to find help.
After the event, check the garden again. A wasp nest can appear at any time in the season, and an event is a good reminder to stay alert until the end of the summer.
Wasps on your property in Chislehurst?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.