Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Ampthill
A cluster of insects hanging from a branch or wall looks alarming, but a honeybee swarm and a wasp nest are quite different, and they need different help.
A cluster that appears overnight
Few things startle a householder like a sudden ball of insects on a fence post, a branch or a wall. It appears out of nowhere, hums loudly and seems to be full of angry stingers. The first assumption is often that it is a wasp nest.
In Ampthill, in Bedfordshire, as elsewhere, it is worth pausing before phoning. A cluster of honeybees on a surface may be a swarm, which is a temporary gathering of bees looking for a new home. It is a different situation from a wasp nest, and it calls for a different kind of help.
As always, keep a good distance and do not disturb the insects.
A swarm is a natural event and is normally brief. That alone can settle the question for many people, who find the cluster has gone by the next morning.
What a honeybee swarm looks like
A swarm is a mass of bees, often packed tightly into a clump the shape of a rugby ball or a beard hanging from a branch. The bees are golden-brown and fuzzy, and they move over one another constantly in a dense, living cluster.
There is no papery structure. The cluster is made of the bees themselves. It may be there for a few hours or a couple of days before the bees move on to a new nesting site.
Swarms often appear in warm weather, when a colony has outgrown its home. The bees in a swarm are typically focused on staying together rather than on defending anything, but they should still be given plenty of space.
Seen up close, which you should not do, swarming bees look calm and heavy with their cargo of honey. From a distance, the main impression is of a dark, moving mass that hums.
Weather often decides when swarms occur. Warm, still days are typical, and a swarm that settles during a cool evening may hang around until the morning sun warms it enough to fly.
What a wasp nest looks like
A wasp nest, by contrast, is a built structure. It has a papery outer shell, usually grey or brownish, and wasps pass in and out through a small opening. If the nest is concealed, all you may see is a busy hole in a wall, an eave, a chimney, a bush or the ground.
Wasps begin building in early April, depending on the weather, and the colony continues to grow until it peaks in August with as many as 2,000 wasps. It stays in place for the season, whereas a swarm moves on.
That permanence is an important difference. If the insects are still in the same place after a couple of days, and there is a visible structure or a steady stream through a hole, you may have a nest.
If the insects are using a hole in a wall or roof, rather than clustering in the open, it is harder to know what they are. In that case look at the bodies of the individual insects when they come out into the light, and use the checklist further down.
Quick comparison
A short list can help you decide:
- Swarm: a clump of furry bees on a branch or wall, no paper structure, usually gone within a day or two.
- Wasp nest: a paper structure or a busy entrance, wasps coming and going in a line, staying put for weeks.
- Behaviour: a swarm hangs together calmly; a nest is a busy site with constant traffic.
If you are unsure, take a photo from a safe distance and describe what you see on the phone.
Time is useful as a test. Note when you first saw the cluster, and look again at the same time the next day. Moved on means a swarm; still there with traffic suggests a nest.
Who to call
For a honeybee swarm, contact a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation. They are often glad to collect swarms. We do not treat bees.
For wasps, we can help. Treatment is a fixed £70 per nest, and £30 for an additional nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge. The price is confirmed on the phone before the technician visits, and it might be more where special access equipment is needed.
You can book using the online form, the contact page or by phoning 07852 111 437. We offer same-day service, and we are open seven days a week with evening and weekend appointments for homes and businesses.
A beekeeper will want to know where the swarm is, how high up it hangs and how easy it is to reach. The more precisely you can describe it, the more likely it is that someone will be able to help.
Staying safe in the meantime
Keep children and pets away from any cluster or nest, and close windows nearby. Do not spray, throw anything or try to move it yourself.
If someone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if you can see it and use a cold pack. Swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash need a 999 call. If anyone is allergic to stings, mention it when booking so the booking can be prioritised, and speak to a GP about it.
Take particular care with pets, which can be curious about humming clusters. Keep dogs on a lead and cats indoors until the insects have gone.
Only once the insects are gone, or the nest has been treated, should you clear away the area or reopen doors and windows.
Wasps on your property in Ampthill?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.