Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Cross Green
A hole in the ground with insects coming and going rarely means what people first assume. Underground nesters include bumblebees as well as wasps, and the two look quite different.
The hole at the edge of the lawn
A gardener is tidying up near the compost heap when they notice a small hole at the base of the bin, with a couple of large, fuzzy insects wandering in and out. Another person lifts a paving slab to find a similar hole beneath it. Both fear that wasps have moved in and want something done quickly.
It is understandable. Underground nests are a frequent source of alarm in gardens, yards and verges, partly because the entrance seems so small in comparison with what might lie beneath. But before booking anything, spend a few minutes working out what you are actually looking at. In many cases the answer is bumblebees, which do very little harm and should be left alone.
Keep in mind that none of this requires you to disturb the hole. Everything here can be done from a few metres away.
Bumblebees: the usual suspects
Bumblebees often take over abandoned small-mammal burrows, or nest in grass tussocks, compost heaps, banks and gaps under sheds and paving. A bumblebee colony is modest in size compared with a wasp colony, and the insects come and go slowly with a lazy, heavy flight.
They are big, round and visibly furry, with soft bands of yellow, black, white or buff, and some have a pale or orange tail. They sound deep and loud, but they are not often aggressive. Their interest is in flowers, not in your picnic, so you will find them on clover, lavender and other blooms rather than around a bin.
- Large, rounded, furry body.
- Slow, bumbling flight, often low to the ground.
- Only a few insects visible at once.
- Visits flowers rather than food and drink.
Another point in their favour is timing. A bumblebee colony generally finishes its cycle by the end of the season, and only young queens survive the winter, so a nest in an awkward corner usually resolves itself without any intervention. Marking the area and keeping pets and mowers away is often all that is needed.
Wasps below ground
Some wasps do nest underground as well, often using old burrows or loose soil. These insects are smaller and slimmer than bumblebees, with a smooth, glossy look and sharp black-and-yellow patterns. The flight in and out of the hole is quick and busy, and the numbers can grow quickly through the summer.
If you see a continuous stream of slim, glossy insects at one small hole, and especially if they react to vibration, such as footsteps or mowing, treat it as a wasp nest. Wasps can swarm and sting if disturbed, and a lawn mower passing over the entrance is exactly the kind of disturbance that causes trouble.
The simplest rule is to mark the spot from a distance, for example with a garden cane placed well back, and then stay away from it. Do not pour anything into the hole or try to fill it in.
It is worth remembering that wasps begin building from late April depending on the weather, and a nest started then will be much larger by August. A small hole in spring can lead to a large colony underneath by late summer.
A nest in the ground can also be shared with other creatures, such as ants, so the presence of a hole is not on its own proof of anything. The insects visiting it are the real evidence.
A few questions to ask yourself
If you are still unsure after looking, work through these questions in order. Each one narrows things down without needing you to go near the hole.
- How big is the insect compared with a bottle top, and does it look furry or smooth?
- Does it wander slowly in and out, or does it dart and return at speed?
- Are there lots of insects at once, or just one or two?
- Do they react to footsteps or vibrations nearby?
- Have you seen them at flowers, or only around food, bins and sweet drinks?
Two or three answers pointing the same way are usually enough. Large, furry, slow and few suggests bumblebees. Slim, glossy, fast and many suggests wasps.
Why the right identification protects bees
Honeybees and bumblebees pollinate crops and gardens, which is why we leave them alone. If you believe you have bumblebees, a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation can advise you. In many cases the colony will die back naturally by autumn, and the safest course is to keep an eye on it and give it some space in the meantime.
Telling the two apart protects wildlife, saves you money, and avoids a wasted visit. It also means that when you do need us, we can concentrate on the job that is actually ours.
Please do not worry about wasting our time with a question. If you describe what you have seen and we think bumblebees are more likely, we will say so honestly.
When it is wasps
If you are confident the insects are wasps, Wasp Exterminator Leeds can treat the nest for a fixed £90, and £35 for each additional nest on the same property. We do not charge for the call-out, and the price is settled by phone before we come. We work for domestic and commercial customers across Cross Green and the surrounding areas, seven days a week, and same-day service is offered.
Tell us where the hole is, how close it is to paths, play areas or doors, and whether the insects looked slim and glossy or large and furry. Call 0113 347 0014 or use the form on the contact page. Please also mention if anyone using the garden is allergic to stings.
Until the visit, keep children, pets and mowers away from the spot, and do not disturb the soil around it.
Wasps on your property in Cross Green?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.