Wasps vs Bees – How to Identify Them Before Arranging Pest Control in Roundhay
Outdoor meals attract insects, but not all of them are the same. Knowing which are wasps helps you decide whether to move the table or call for help.
A barbecue interrupted
The table is laid, the barbecue is going and a jug of fruit cordial is on the table. Within minutes, several insects arrive. Some hover near the drinks, others land on the burgers, and one seems to be investigating the cordial itself. The host wonders if they are bees, and whether the party should move indoors.
Dining outside is one of the main times people meet wasps close up, so it is a good moment to learn what to look for.
What follows is a short guide to who is likely to be at your table and how to deal with them calmly, without a fuss and without hurting anyone.
There is nothing unusual about a few wasps joining a meal in July or August, so a short flurry of visitors is not a reason to worry.
Who comes to dinner
The insects that go for your food are usually wasps. Adults seek out sugar, so sweet drinks, fruit, cakes and ice cream are all magnets, and they also take meat and fish to feed their grubs. Bees ignore the picnic and head to flowers.
If the visitors are smooth, glossy, narrow-waisted and sharply marked, you are almost certainly dealing with wasps. If they are rounder and furry and are working on the lavender by the fence, they are bees.
- Insects on food and drink: likely wasps.
- Insects at flowers: likely bees.
- Insects entering a gap in a wall or roof: could be either, so look at the body shape.
Honeybees might wander over now and then, particularly if there are flowers on the table, but they quickly head off again. Bumblebees stay with their blooms. If the insects keep coming back to your plate, assume they are wasps.
Look closely at the first insect to land. If it walks across the food and keeps moving, with a fast and jerky pace, it is behaving like a wasp. If it simply hovers by the flowers in a pot and moves on, it is a bee.
Practical table habits
A few simple habits make a big difference. Cover jugs and glasses, or use straws and lidded cups. Keep food under cloches or mesh covers until it is time to eat. Clear plates, scrape scraps into a bin with a tight lid and wipe down surfaces. Sticky hands and faces attract wasps, so a wet wipe by the table is handy.
Position bins away from the dining area, and keep the lid closed. If you do notice a wasp on your drink, do not slap at it. Move slowly, set the cup down and let it fly off.
Choose the seating with care. A table under a tree in fruit or beside an open bin will always be busier. Move it a few metres away and the difference can be noticeable. Likewise, avoid putting cut fruit or puddles of juice on the ground where children play.
Some households also find that a small dish of sweet food placed a good distance from the table distracts the visitors, though this is no substitute for dealing with a nest if there is one. Keep it far from where people sit and do not try it near children.
When the visitors are a sign of a nest
A few wasps at a barbecue are normal in summer. A steady stream of them is a different matter. If the numbers keep rising each time you eat outside, or you see them heading to one gap in the eaves, a shed or the ground, a nest may be close by.
This is when it is worth watching from a distance to see where they go. Look for a single spot where several wasps disappear, and keep well away. Do not try to follow them to the entrance.
Watching from a distance for ten minutes at a quiet moment, rather than at mealtime, is the easiest way to learn where they go. Keep to one side of any gap you spot and note what you see.
Pay attention to the time as well. If wasps arrive within minutes of food being put out, and they come from the same direction every time, you have good evidence of a nest within flying distance.
Getting a nest dealt with
Wasp Exterminator Leeds treats wasp nests for a fixed £90 per nest, with £35 for each additional nest on the same property. There is no call-out charge, and the price is confirmed on the phone before a technician visits. Nothing is done until you agree.
We cover Roundhay, a suburb of Leeds, and nearby areas, for homes and commercial sites. Our technicians are trained and the work is fully insured. We are open seven days a week and same-day service is offered. Call 0113 347 0014 or use the booking form on the contact page.
When you ring, mention that the problem shows up at mealtimes. It helps us understand how the area is used and which parts of the garden matter most.
If your visitors are bees
Both honeybees and bumblebees are pollinators we do not treat, and they deserve to be left to their work. If you believe a bee colony has settled near your patio, a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation is the right place to ask. In many cases, the best solution is to give the bees a little space and let them carry on.
If someone is stung, wash the area, remove the sting if visible and use a cold pack. Call 999 for swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. If a family member is allergic, tell us when booking.
Remember that being cautious is not the same as being afraid. Most outdoor meals go perfectly well with a few simple precautions.
Wasps on your property in Roundhay?
Fixed price £90 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.