Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in St Mary Hoo
Knowing how wasps and bees behave when they sting helps you judge what has happened, treat it sensibly and decide whether a nest on your property needs attention.
Why the sting itself is a clue
People often work out what stung them after the event, and the way it happened can be revealing. Honeybees generally sting only when they feel squeezed or threatened, and a honeybee's sting is barbed, so it tends to stay in the skin. Wasps have a smoother sting and are able to sting more than once, which is one reason an encounter with a disturbed wasp nest can be so unpleasant.
If you live in St Mary Hoo, on the Hoo Peninsula, and you have been stung while gardening or hanging out washing, it is worth thinking back over what was around you. A single sting from a lone insect is a very different situation from several stings in a short time near a particular spot. The first is bad luck. The second suggests that a nest is somewhere close.
Timing can tell you something too. A sting in the first warm weeks of the year is more likely to involve a lone scout or a bee on a flower, because nests are small and the insects around are few. A sting in the heat of late summer, when colonies are at their largest, is more likely to involve a wasp that has been disturbed near its home.
What the circumstances suggest
Think through the event calmly, using these prompts.
- Was it near a gap, hole or structure? Multiple stings close to one spot suggest you strayed near a nest.
- Was the insect at food or drink? Wasps are drawn to sweet food and open bins, so a sting at a picnic table is more likely from a wasp.
- Was the insect on flowers? Bees are far more likely to be the culprit when you brush against a shrub or lean on a bloom.
- Was a sting visible afterwards? A sting left in the skin points to a honeybee, though it is not a perfect test.
- Did it chase you? Insects defending a nest may follow for a short distance, which is rarely true of a bee on a flower.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is simply a way of working out whether you should be watching for a nest, and where.
Clothing is a further hint. Insects that become trapped in hair, collars, sleeves or a washing basket tend to sting out of panic, and these accidents say little about any nest. By contrast, being stung several times while standing quite still near a wall or shrub strongly suggests that you were close to an entrance without knowing it.
First aid for a sting
Keep the advice simple and stay calm. Move away from the area so that you are not stung again, and bring any children or pets with you.
For an ordinary sting, wash the skin, lift out a sting you can see and cool the area with a cold pack. Dial 999 at once if there are signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheeze, dizziness or a widespread rash. Someone with a history of allergic reactions should have a word with their GP.
Most stings are painful and swollen for a short while and then settle on their own. If you are worried about a reaction, or the person stung seems unwell, it is always better to ask for medical help than to wait and see.
Pets deserve a thought here too. Dogs and cats often investigate a nest entrance with their noses, and a stung animal is a worry in its own right. Keep animals away from the spot, and if you are concerned about a pet that has been stung, speak to your vet rather than waiting.
Why a nest is a safety matter
Wasp nests begin in late April, depending on the weather, in places such as eaves, walls, chimneys, trees, bushes and holes in the ground. The nest gets busier week by week and at its August peak can hold 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps.
A nest in a busy part of the garden or beside a door is a genuine risk, and that is the main reason we advise against going near, however short the visit. A nest that seems calm can become agitated by vibration, noise or sudden movement, so a lawnmower or a hedge trimmer used nearby can cause trouble that you did not intend.
Give a nest a very wide berth, because disturbed wasps can swarm and sting. Keep children and pets away as well, and do not try to deal with it yourself. If you need to get past, use a different route.
Even if you feel fine afterwards, avoid the area until a technician has looked. It is common for people to be stung once, shrug it off and return to the same spot the next day, only to meet a far angrier response from a nest that is now on alert.
When bees are the cause
If the evidence suggests bees, there is usually no nest to worry about, and the sting was almost certainly defensive, for example because a bee was caught in clothing or trodden on in the grass. Give them space and they will mostly ignore you.
Bumblebees and honeybees are useful pollinators, and a local beekeeper or bee organisation is the right place to turn. Our work is wasps only, and you will get a straight answer if the insects sound like bees.
Photograph the location from a distance and note the time of day, so you can describe the likely site of the nest when you call. If the stinging happened in a particular place, such as a path, hedge or doorway, mention that too.
How to arrange a visit
If you think you have a wasp nest, we are here to help.
To get a visit organised, dial 01622 410 019 or send your details through the contact page. The cost of dealing with a nest is a fixed £120 whatever the time of day, with one visit guaranteed. Each extra nest at the same address is charged at £60 extra.
The company covers homes and businesses alike and is open every day of the week. Weekend and evening visits can be requested when you book, and the technicians are fully insured and qualified.
When there is a sting allergy in the family, flag it when you book and we will prioritise the visit. You can also ask at booking whether the empty nest can be taken down afterwards.
Wasps on your property in St Mary Hoo?
Fixed price £120 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.