Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in South Mimms
A few simple notes, and a photo taken from a safe distance, make a phone call about a wasp or bee quicker and more accurate.
Helping us help you
When you phone about an insect problem, the most useful thing you can bring is a clear description. The person on the other end cannot see what you can, so the more precisely you describe it, the sooner we can say whether it sounds like a wasp nest or a job for a beekeeper.
This is as relevant in South Mimms, near Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, as anywhere. You do not need any special knowledge. A few minutes of careful watching from a safe distance is enough.
The aim of this article is to give you a short list of what to look for and what to say, so the call goes smoothly.
Think of it as a short, practical briefing. The better the picture, the more useful the conversation.
A safe way to take a photo
A photograph can help, but only if it can be taken safely. Do not approach the nest or entrance for a close-up. Wasps can swarm and sting if they feel threatened, and a phone held near a nest is a bad idea.
Use the zoom from a distance, preferably from indoors or from the far side of the garden. Take a wide shot that shows the position of the entrance, and, if you can, a closer shot of any single insect resting on a surface.
If you cannot photograph it safely, do not worry. A verbal description is enough. Never put yourself or anyone else at risk for a picture.
Wasps are more active in warm sunshine, and photographs taken then are clearer. Avoid taking pictures at dusk or in the rain, when insects are less visible.
Details about the insects
Try to note the following, from a distance:
- Body shape: slim and smooth with a narrow waist, or round and furry
- Colour: sharp yellow and black, or softer golden, brown or pale-tailed
- How many you see in a minute, and whether they fly in a steady line
- What they are doing: visiting flowers, circling food and drink, or entering a gap
- Size compared with something familiar, such as a fingernail
You do not need to be exact. Rough impressions are fine and are often all that is needed.
If more than one kind of insect is present, note it. Sometimes bees visit flowers close to a wasp nest, and the two can be mixed up when seen together.
Remember that most descriptions are better than none. People often say they are not sure how to describe a wasp, but phrases such as thin waist, shiny stripes or fuzzy and round are perfectly clear, and are exactly the words that help us.
Details about the location
The position of the activity matters just as much as the insects themselves. Take note of:
- Where the insects go in and out: eaves, a wall, a chimney, a tree, a bush or a hole in the ground
- Roughly how high the entrance is, and whether it could be reached by a ladder
- Which side of the building or garden it is on, and whether it is on a shared boundary
- Any obstacles such as a locked gate, a conservatory roof or dense planting
- How long you have noticed the activity, and whether it is increasing
Access can change the plan. If special access equipment is needed to reach the nest, the price might be more, and we will say so on the phone before anyone visits.
When you cannot judge height, compare with a window frame or a floor level. Saying it is above the first-floor window is helpful.
If you can, say whether the insects seem to be entering only one opening or several. Several entrances sometimes mean more than one nest, or that you are seeing a different pattern from the one you expected. Describe it and we will work through it with you rather than guessing.
Other things to mention
If anyone in the household is allergic to stings, say so. The booking can then be prioritised, although we cannot promise a particular response time.
Mention whether it is a home or business, and when the property is usually occupied. We offer evening and weekend appointments, so tell us what suits.
If you think there may be more than one nest, say so, since an additional nest on the same property costs £30 in addition to the £70 for the first. The price is fixed and confirmed on the phone.
Be ready to say if the property is a home, a shop or an office, so we can discuss the best time for a visit.
Have a pen or the notes app ready while you phone. We may ask a question you had not thought about, and it is easier to answer if you have written down your own observations first.
If it turns out to be bees
If your description sounds like honeybees or bumblebees, we will say so honestly. We treat wasps only. We would suggest contacting a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation, and leaving the insects undisturbed in the meantime.
If it is wasps, you can book on the online form or contact page, or phone 07852 111 437. We are open seven days a week, with same-day service and domestic and commercial work. Technicians are fully insured and qualified, and nothing is done until you agree.
Do not feel anxious about getting it wrong. Many people are not sure, and an honest description is always the right place to start.
A few minutes spent preparing now saves time on the day and helps the technician bring the right approach.
Wasps on your property in South Mimms?
Fixed price £70 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.