Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Singlewell
Outbuildings and bird boxes attract nesting insects of several kinds, and checking carefully before you act avoids disturbing bees or leaving a wasp nest to grow.
Outbuildings are popular
Sheds, garages, bird boxes and log stores attract all kinds of wildlife because they are dry, quiet and sheltered. Insects are no different. If you have noticed movement at the corner of an outbuilding in Singlewell, the question is whether you are looking at bees, wasps or something else.
It is the sort of problem that sneaks up on you. You open the shed door once a week, and one day there is a steady stream of insects on the wing. At that point, careful identification and a clear head matter more than a quick reaction. Nothing about the situation is improved by a rushed decision, and a good deal can be worsened by one.
Remember to include the doors and windows of the outbuilding in your check, since insects will sometimes enter through gaps around frames. If a shed has a window, a pane of glass may let you see activity without going near the opening, but you should never press your face to it.
What you may find
Wasps will nest in gaps in the roof, beneath the eaves, in lofts and in wall voids, and they sometimes use hollow spaces in sheds. Honeybees may use a cavity in a wall or roof. Bumblebees may use bird boxes, compost, old nests and sheltered spots at ground level.
The differences are in the look and the behaviour. Wasps are smooth and narrow-waisted, with crisp stripes. Bumblebees are round, furry and slow. Honeybees are smaller, golden brown and fuzzy. The traffic at a wasp entrance is usually quick and direct, whereas a bumblebee nest is typically quiet.
In a garage, check around the up-and-over door, high on the walls and in the corners of the ceiling, as these are all spots where an insect can slip through. In a shed, look at the corners of the felted roof, the joins of the side panels and any knots in the timber.
Safe checks
You can find out a lot without opening anything.
- Stand back a few metres and watch the building for several minutes.
- Note where insects enter and leave, and how high.
- Look at the insects when they land on the outside of the shed or box.
- Listen: a hum from inside a closed space can suggest a nest within.
- Photograph the area from a safe distance.
Do not open the door, lift the lid of the bird box or tap on the wall to see what happens. Disturbance is the quickest way to be stung.
Write down what you find. A short note of where you stood, the time and the number of insects you counted turns an impression into a report. If a technician or a beekeeper attends, those notes will save them time and make the visit shorter.
Bird boxes in particular
Bird boxes are designed to attract birds, but insects sometimes take them over. If you find insects entering a box that was previously used by birds, the species matters. Bumblebees are a common culprit, and they are valuable pollinators. A wasp nest in a bird box can look like a grey papery ball filling the cavity.
If you think a wasp nest is present, do not open the box. Wait before cleaning it out, and keep birds in mind, because disturbing any nest at the wrong moment can cause harm.
Honeybees and bumblebees are valuable pollinators, so please ask a local beekeeper or bee organisation for advice instead of us. Wasp Exterminator Kent concentrates on wasps alone, and we will be upfront if bees seem more likely.
In some gardens a bird box is also used by solitary insects that are not wasps or bees at all. If you are unsure, take a step back and ask for advice. Opening the box to look is the one step guaranteed to cause upset for the insects, the birds and you.
Timing and tools
Wasps start building nests from late April, depending on the weather, in sheltered spots like gaps in eaves and walls, chimneys, trees, bushes or the ground itself. The colony keeps growing through the summer before peaking in August at anything from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps.
The longer a nest in your shed grows, the more insects there are in the space you use, so it is better to act when you are sure. Never try to burn, smoke or flood a nest, and never use a ladder to look closer. These are the sort of actions that lead to stings and injuries. Keep well away from a live nest, as the wasps can swarm and sting when they feel under threat.
Tidy storage helps. If you keep deckchairs, garden furniture or bags of compost against the wall of an outbuilding, move them gently away on a cool morning, taking care not to bump the wall. Insects are far less active in the early morning and in cool weather.
Booking help for wasps
If it looks like wasps, we can help.
To arrange a visit, ring Wasp Exterminator Kent on 01622 410 019 or use the online form if you would rather write it down. A wasp nest treatment stays at £120 wherever the property is, with no call-out charge and one visit guaranteed. A second nest on the same property is just £60 extra.
Wasp Exterminator Kent offers same-day service for domestic and commercial customers, seven days a week. Evening and weekend appointments are part of the service, and each technician is fully insured and qualified.
If anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, it is worth telling us when you book so the job can be prioritised.
When you get in touch, tell us the type of building, where the insects enter and how high up the opening is, so we can plan the visit. A garage in daily use needs different handling from a shed that nobody opens until spring.
Wasps on your property in Singlewell?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.