Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Frogham
Not every buzzing insect at a nest entrance is a wasp, and getting the identification right matters because bees are treated very differently.
Why identification matters
People often call every stripy flying insect a wasp. In fact, honeybees and bumblebees are quite different animals with different behaviour, and they are treated very differently when they nest in a house or garden. Honeybees and bumblebees are valuable pollinators, and nobody should be in a hurry to have them removed. We treat wasps only.
Getting it right also affects your safety. A swarm of honeybees hanging in a tree is not the same as a wasp nest, and the response you need is different. Knowing which insect you have helps you to choose the right person to call.
Misidentification is common. Hoverflies, for example, mimic the colours of wasps but are harmless flies, and various solitary bees and wasps visit gardens without nests. A single insect on a flower tells you little. It is the nest or colony that matters.
A useful rule is to ask whether the insects are going in and out of a hole, or whether they are simply visiting flowers. Insects visiting flowers are rarely a problem. Insects living in a structure are the ones that need identifying.
Clues in appearance
Wasps have a smooth, narrow-waisted body with bright, clearly separated yellow and black bands. They look shiny and almost hairless. Honeybees are more golden-brown, with a slightly hairy body and a less sharp pattern. Bumblebees are round, large and furry, often with pale bands and a fat rear end.
Wasps fly with a darting, hovering movement and are often seen around food and drink. Honeybees are usually seen on flowers and flying a steady line to and from a hive. Bumblebees are noisy, bumbling and often found low down on flowers.
Size is a poor guide, since individual insects differ, and so do colours, because pollen and dirt change the look of an insect. Look at the body shape and the way it behaves, and do not rely on one feature.
Wasps also tend to be thinner and sleeker than bees in flight, and their legs trail beneath the body. Bumblebees have a heavy, low drone, while wasps make a higher, more irritable buzz.
Clues in the nest
Wasp nests are made of a grey or brown papery material, which the wasps make from chewed wood. They may hang in a roof space or tree, or be hidden in a wall or the ground. The entrance is often a small hole, with wasps going in and out all day.
Honeybees live in colonies with wax comb, often in a hollow tree, a chimney or a wall cavity, and sometimes cluster in a swarm on a branch for a short time. Bumblebees nest in smaller groups, often in the ground, under a shed or in a clump of grass, and the colony is small. If you are unsure, do not try to look closer.
A hole in a lawn with insects flying in and out could be wasps, bumblebees or solitary bees. If you are unable to tell from a safe distance, leave it alone and ask for advice. Never poke or dig to find out.
If the colony is inside a wall, a roof space or a chimney, the entrance is the best clue. Papery grey fibre round the opening suggests wasps, whereas bees tend to leave waxy residue and a distinct sweet smell near their entrance.
What to do if you think it is bees
Do not disturb them and do not try to remove them yourself. Contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation, which can advise on honeybees and bumblebees. We do not treat bees, and we do not treat other insects than wasps. If you are not sure what you have, you can send us a description, or a photograph taken from a safe distance, through the contact page and we will tell you whether it sounds like a wasp nest.
Stay back from any large cluster, particularly if you or a family member is allergic.
Beekeepers and bee organisations are used to being asked about swarms and nests, and many will talk you through identification over the phone. Please do not spray or smoke any insect you think may be a bee.
For those who keep bees, or have neighbours who do, it is worth remembering that a swarm that settles briefly in a garden is usually looking for a new home and moves on within a few days. The beekeeper is the right person to ask.
Stings are still stings
Whatever the insect, the first aid is similar. Remove a visible sting, which honeybees leave behind, wash the area with cool water and mild soap, and apply a cold pack. Call 999 straight away if breathing becomes difficult or noisy, the throat, lips or face swell, or the person becomes dizzy or develops a rash across the body. A mouth sting is an urgent matter.
Remember that none of the insects is out to harm you. Calm and distance solve most problems.
Allergy can apply to bee stings as well as wasp stings, so the same medical advice holds. Speak to your GP if you have ever reacted strongly to either.
If you are not sure who to call, a description by message to us is free, and we will be honest if the answer is that you need someone else.
If it is wasps
If it turns out to be a wasp nest, Wasp Exterminator Kent can help in Frogham and the surrounding area. A nest costs a fixed £120 with one visit guaranteed, and an additional nest on the same property is £60 extra. There is no call-out charge, we are open seven days a week and same-day service is available. Technicians are fully insured and qualified. Phone 01622 410 019 or use the booking form at /contact-us/. Say if anyone is allergic so that the job can be prioritised.
If you send us a description, include the size of the nest, where it is, what the insects look like and how many you can see at once.
Wasps on your property in Frogham?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.