How many times have you been enjoying the summer sun or a picnic in your garden, only for it to be interrupted by a wasp or bee? These two flying insects are often confused but they both do vastly different tasks and we should be looking to protect our bees rather than swiping them away.
Bees play an important role in pollinating our food crops, with estimates suggesting bees contribute over £650 million to the UK economy each year. That is not to say wasps are not beneficial to helping to pollinate our plants and crops, but they tend to have a worse reputation thanks to their more aggressive behaviour.
Telling the difference
Spotting a bumblebee is easy, with the big, round, and fuzzy insect looking very different to wasps. However, the trouble is when you are trying to tell the difference between honeybees and wasps is far more difficult.
To help you, we have put together a hand guide:
| Honeybees | Wasps | |
| Body shape | Thin body shape with little hairs | Thin body shape with no hairs |
| Colour | Black and amber stripes | Vivid yellow and black stripes |
| Flying style | Legs are usually hidden when flying | Legs are visible when flying |
| Sting | Will only sting if provoked and will die afterwards | Can be aggressive and capable of stinging multiple times |
| Location | Lives in large colonies in hollow trees or roof spaces | Lives in large colonies usually in the ground or roof |
| Can be spotted | On and around flowers | Typically around food and drink |
| How they help | Pollinate flowers and crops and make honey | Can eat smaller insects but are typically considered a pest |
Have you spotted a nest?
If you have spotted a nest and you are not sure whether it is a bee’s nest or a wasp’s nest, then call our team of pest control experts. Our family-run business is one of the leading providers of wasp nest removal Colchester and we also cover a wide range of local towns and villages.
No matter if you have a commercial property or it is your family home, get in touch today and let’s help you to remove those pests and give you peace of mind.