Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Erith
When a lot of insects are flying around a property, it is worth checking whether there is more than one nest, and whether every group of insects is a wasp at all.
One nest, two nests or none
A busy garden or yard can leave you wondering how many problems you actually have. Insects heading in different directions, activity at both ends of the property or wasps at the front door and the shed at the back could mean one nest with a wide flight range, or two separate ones. Equally, some of the insects may be bees.
For anyone in Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley, who has seen activity in more than one place, sorting this out first helps in booking the right amount of work, and avoids treating a spot that turns out to be harmless.
Counting entrances is not an exact science, and you do not need to be sure. A description of what you have seen is enough, and the technician will look at the whole property when they arrive. What matters is that you are honest about what you can and cannot say.
Mapping the activity
Walk the property slowly from a distance, and note each place where you see a stream of insects entering a gap or hole.
- Mark each spot on a rough sketch.
- Note the height of each entrance.
- Describe the insects at each one: smooth and sharply banded, or round and furry.
- Note whether the traffic is steady or occasional.
- Photograph each from a safe distance.
Two entrances can belong to the same nest if they are close together, but entrances at opposite ends of the property usually mean separate colonies.
Leave a few days between your first and second walk-round. If new entrances appear, or if the traffic at the first one changes, you will have a better picture. A single quick look may miss a nest that is quiet at that moment or hidden behind foliage.
Keep your notes simple. A line such as "gap under the left-hand eaves, about four metres up, steady stream of smooth insects, busiest at about two in the afternoon" is the perfect level of detail. Do the same for each location, and email or read them out when you ring.
Are they all wasps?
Do not assume that every group is the same kind of insect. Bumblebees might nest in a bank while wasps occupy the eaves. A swarm of honeybees might hang from a tree while wasps work the bin. Look at each location on its own merits, checking the waist, the surface and the behaviour.
Bumblebees and honeybees are useful pollinators, so they are best left to a local beekeeper or bee organisation. Our work is for wasps only, so if it sounds like bees we will say so rather than book a visit.
If you have several outbuildings, a garage, a shed and a summerhouse, check each one separately. Insects that are using the garage may have nothing to do with those at the shed, and it is easy to miss one if you assume they all come from the same place.
How extra nests are handled
If there are two or more wasp nests on the same property, the technician can deal with them in the same visit where possible. Tell us what you have seen when you book, so that we can plan for it.
To get a visit organised, dial 01622 410 019 or use the form on the website if you prefer. The cost of dealing with a nest is a fixed £120 with one visit guaranteed and no call-out charge. Each extra nest at the same address is priced at £60 extra.
The company handles domestic and commercial work and is open seven days a week with same-day service available. Weekend and evening visits can be arranged, and everyone who attends is fully insured and qualified.
For commercial premises with several buildings or units, the same approach applies. Tell us how many separate spots you have noticed, and where they are in relation to one another, so we can plan the visit.
The season and the count
Wasp nests begin in late April, depending on the weather, in whatever shelter they find, from eaves, walls and chimneys to trees, bushes and holes in the ground. The nest gets busier week by week and reaches its peak in August with 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps.
Early in the season there may be only one nest, and more can be established over the summer. If you had a nest treated earlier in the year and see activity again, it may be a new one rather than the first returning. Tell us about previous visits when you ring.
Bear in mind that a large colony can send workers a good distance from the nest. It is therefore possible to see wasps in several places while there is only one nest. Watch the direction they fly in as they leave, and the pattern may become clearer.
Safety with several sites
Give a nest a very wide berth, because wasps can swarm and sting if they feel threatened. With more than one location, mark each from a distance and keep everyone clear of all of them, not just the busiest.
For an ordinary sting, start by washing the area, then remove a visible sting and apply a cold pack. Dial 999 at once if you notice a widespread rash, dizziness, wheeze or difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips or throat. Someone with a history of allergic reactions ought to discuss it with their GP.
When there is a sting allergy in the family, mention it at the time of booking so we can prioritise the job.
After a visit, keep an eye on the area for a few days and tell us if you see further activity. Do not return to the nest site or disturb the area until the technician has said it is safe.
Wasps on your property in Erith?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.