Wasp, Hornet or Bee?
Before you call, use this guide to identify what's actually in your property. Bees are protected and treated very differently to wasps — getting it right matters.
The three-second test
Bright yellow & smooth?
Almost certainly a wasp. Shiny, hairless body with a clear pinched waist. We treat these.
Big, brown & loud?
Probably a European hornet. Up to 35mm, chestnut thorax. Calmer than wasps but a bigger sting. We treat these.
Fuzzy & round?
That's a bee — honey or bumble. Protected, vital pollinators. We don't treat bees and will help you find a beekeeper.
Common UK stinging insects, side by side
Common Wasp
Vespula vulgaris
- Size:
- 12–17mm
- Appearance:
- Bright yellow with black bands; smooth, shiny body; pinched waist
- Nest:
- Papery grey football-shape, 10–30cm. Lofts, sheds, wall cavities, under eaves, in compost heaps and ground holes.
- Behaviour:
- Aggressive when nest is disturbed; can sting repeatedly. Peak activity July–September.
German Wasp
Vespula germanica
- Size:
- 12–17mm
- Appearance:
- Very similar to common wasp; three small black dots on the face is a giveaway
- Nest:
- Almost always concealed — wall cavities, lofts, underground in old rodent burrows. Larger than common wasp nests by late summer.
- Behaviour:
- More defensive than common wasps. Nests often go undetected until they're very large.
European Hornet
Vespa crabro
- Size:
- 25–35mm (much larger than a wasp)
- Appearance:
- Chestnut-brown thorax, yellow-and-brown striped abdomen — not the bright yellow of a wasp
- Nest:
- Pale brown papery nest in hollow trees, chimneys, outbuildings and lofts. Often visible at the entrance.
- Behaviour:
- Generally calmer than common wasps but the sting is more painful. Active at dusk and into the night.
Asian Hornet
Vespa velutina
- Size:
- 20–30mm
- Appearance:
- Mostly black with a single yellow/orange band near the rear of the abdomen and yellow leg-tips
- Nest:
- Large spherical nests high in trees or under eaves, with a side entry rather than the bottom entry of European hornet nests.
- Behaviour:
- Invasive species — a serious threat to honey bees. UK sightings must be reported to the iRecord Asian Hornet app.
Do not approach. Report sightings, then call us for advice.
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
- Size:
- 12–15mm
- Appearance:
- Golden-brown, fuzzy all over, rounded body — no bright yellow
- Nest:
- Wax combs in hollow trees, chimneys or wall voids. Persistent, used for years.
- Behaviour:
- Docile away from the hive; can only sting once. Protected — should be re-homed by a beekeeper, not exterminated.
We refer honey bee swarms to a local beekeeper free of charge.
Bumblebee
Bombus spp.
- Size:
- 11–22mm
- Appearance:
- Very fuzzy, round, often with white/orange/red tails depending on species
- Nest:
- Small (50–400 bees) in compost heaps, bird boxes, under sheds or in long grass. Dies off naturally in autumn.
- Behaviour:
- Extremely docile. Vital pollinators and a UK conservation priority.
We do not treat bumblebee nests — leave them be where possible.
Solitary / Masonry Bee
Osmia spp., Anthophora spp.
- Size:
- 6–15mm
- Appearance:
- Varies — often ginger, brown or metallic blue-black
- Nest:
- Single females in holes in mortar, brickwork or hollow stems. No colony, no defending workers.
- Behaviour:
- Harmless — they almost never sting. Important pollinators.
Not treated. Re-point loose mortar in autumn if you'd rather they didn't return.
Signs you have a wasp nest, not just a stray wasp
- Steady stream of wasps coming and going from a single point in a wall, eave or air brick
- Papery grey material visible in a loft, shed or garden cavity
- Wasps clustering around an outside hole at dusk
- Buzzing or scratching sounds inside a ceiling or wall
- More than 10–15 wasps a day indoors during summer
- Visible nest the size of a golf ball or larger — it will only grow
Identification questions we get asked
Not sure what you've got? Send us a photo.
Speak to a local wasp control specialist in Essex. Lines open 8am – 9pm, 7 days a week.