Look at the body shape first
Wasps have a smooth, shiny body with a sharp, narrow waist between the chest and the abdomen. Their yellow is bright and the black bands are crisp, almost like warning tape. They fold their wings along their back when resting.
Bees are usually rounder and hairy. Bumblebees look fluffy. Honeybees are slimmer than bumblebees but still look fuzzy and golden-brown rather than glossy. Their waist is much less obvious.
- Smooth, shiny, narrow waist: likely a wasp
- Furry, round, chunky: likely a bumblebee
- Slim, brown-gold, slightly hairy: likely a honeybee
- Very large, brown-red head, yellow abdomen: likely a European hornet
Watch how they fly and behave
Wasps fly fast and direct, often in a straight line into a single gap. In late summer they hang around food, bins and drinks. Bees tend to move from flower to flower and rarely bother your picnic.
At a nest, wasps form a steady stream in and out of one entrance. Tree bumblebees often hover in a small cloud outside a bird box in late spring. Those hovering bees are males waiting for queens. They look busy and alarming, but they cannot sting.
Where the nest is gives you clues
Wasps build papery grey or beige nests from chewed wood. You will usually see the entrance, not the nest: a gap under a tile, behind a soffit, at an air brick or a hole in the lawn.
Bumblebees like bird boxes, compost heaps, old mouse holes and loft insulation. Honeybees in the open may be a swarm hanging from a branch. Mining bees dig lots of small holes in lawns in spring, each with a little mound of soil.
What to do if you think it is bees
Leave them alone. Most bumblebee nests last only a few weeks and then die off naturally. They are rarely aggressive if left undisturbed.
A honeybee swarm is different. A local beekeeper may collect it. The British Beekeepers Association lists swarm collectors by area. If you are still unsure, call us and describe what you see. We will tell you honestly if it is bees, and we will not charge you to treat them, because we will not treat them.
Staying safe while you check
Identify from at least a few metres away. Never poke the entrance, block it, spray it or shine a torch into it. Keep children and pets indoors while you look. A photo is not required to book with us; one call and a description is enough.
Bee or wasp?: common questions
Do wasps or bees sting more?
Wasps can sting more than once. A honeybee usually leaves its sting behind and dies. Bumblebees can sting but rarely do unless handled or their nest is disturbed.
Will you remove a bee nest?
No. We never treat bees. We will help you identify them and point you to a beekeeper if it is a honeybee swarm.
Are hornets just big wasps?
European hornets are a larger wasp species. We treat them for the same £125 as a wasp nest. Suspected Asian hornets must be reported, not treated by us.