Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Birstall
This guide follows the process from first sighting to finished job, so you know how to confirm that you have wasps and what to expect once you ring.
Confirming it is wasps
The process starts with a simple confirmation. Wasps are slim and glossy with narrow waists and bold black and yellow bands. Bees are rounder, furrier and softer in colour. If the insects are heading in and out of a hole or gap in numbers, and especially if you see grey, papery material, you have wasps.
Taking a few minutes at this stage saves time later. A photograph from a distance and a short note of where and when are all you need.
When in doubt, keep watching. A day or two of notes costs nothing and is more reliable than a snap judgement. Look at the same spot at different times and write down the number of insects you see and how they behave.
What to have ready before you call
- The location of the insects: roof, wall, loft, shed, tree, hedge or ground.
- A rough idea of the amount of activity.
- Any photographs you have been able to take safely.
- Details of access, such as a side gate, a ladder-height gap or a locked outbuilding.
- Whether anyone in the household is allergic to wasp stings.
You do not need to be sure of every detail. Say what you know and what you do not, and we will ask the questions we need.
If you can, take a short phone video from a safe distance of the insects entering and leaving. Thirty seconds of footage shows the speed, the body shape and the rate of traffic at once, and can be described over the phone more easily than a still picture. Do not worry about the quality, as even a wobbly clip tells us something useful.
Do not worry if your notes are untidy. A few words scribbled on the back of an envelope, such as the side of the house, the height of the gap and the time of day, are worth more than a perfect report you never get round to writing.
Booking and the price
You can ring 0113 347 0014 or use the online booking form on the contact page. The price for a wasp nest is a fixed £90, with £35 for each additional nest on the same property, and no call-out charge. We confirm the price over the phone before a technician visits, and no work is done until you have agreed.
We work seven days a week, we handle both domestic and commercial properties and same-day service is offered, so you do not need to wait for a particular day.
It is also worth saying that you do not have to be certain about the species to call. If the description sounds like wasps, we can talk it through and help you decide. The price is only ever confirmed after we have heard what you have found, and you are under no obligation until you agree to it.
What happens on the day
A trained, fully insured technician comes to the property, finds the nest and treats it. You can help by keeping children and pets indoors or well away from the area, keeping windows closed near the nest and making sure the technician can reach the spot. It is best not to hover nearby, since wasps near the nest may be defensive.
If you would like to know whether the empty nest can be taken down, ask the technician when you book. That is a question to put at the time of booking rather than on the day.
Pets need thought too. Keep dogs and cats indoors during the visit, and keep any garden birds’ feeders and water bowls away from the area until the technician has finished. Small animals may be curious about the activity around a nest and can be stung.
Afterwards, put away any food, drinks and pet bowls that were outside, and let everyone in the household know that the work has been done so that nobody wanders over to look at the nest.
Aftercare and what to watch for
In the days afterwards, you may still see a few wasps around the property. That is normal, and you should keep your distance from the area rather than going to inspect it. Keep food and drink covered outside, and avoid opening or blocking the entrance.
If you notice fresh activity in a different place later in the season, treat it as a separate matter. A new queen or a second nest can start elsewhere, and the additional nest price of £35 applies if it is on the same property.
Some people ask whether it is safe to use the garden again straight away. Keep to the parts of the garden furthest from the nest for a short while, and use common sense around the old entrance. If you are worried about anything you see afterwards, describe it when you ring.
Birstall and the surrounding area
The team covers Birstall, a West Yorkshire town, and the villages around it. The same steps apply wherever you are: identify, describe, book and keep clear. If you are not sure whether you have wasps or bees, take a safe photograph and describe it when you ring, and we will help you decide.
If it turns out to be honeybees or bumblebees, a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation is the right contact, as we treat wasps only.
Wherever you live, the sensible approach is to deal with a wasp nest early rather than late. The colony grows through the summer and peaks in August, so a nest that is quick to arrange in June can be a far bigger undertaking to live alongside in the middle of summer. A short call is all it takes to get started, and you can ask any questions about the process then.
Wasps on your property in Birstall?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.