At this time of year, our clients often contact us after sighting one of the UK’s many flying, stinging insects. In most cases this is wasps, hornets, or one of the many bee species. Not all are a concern or require any action at all, but this article aims to give a basic outline of what action is possible for each.
The first step is to have the species correctly identified. We often find bees, wasps, and hornets are misidentified. “My friend who is a beekeeper said they are…” is quite often incorrect. An experienced pest control specialist will see these species on a regular basis and can quickly confirm what species is causing the issue. Correct identification should always take place before any treatment recommendation is made.
Wasps and Hornets
There are thousands of wasp species in the UK. The ones we typically come across in a pest control setting are the social wasps, which include 9 wasp species and 1 native hornet species. Invasive Asian hornets are also increasingly being seen in the UK.
Unfortunately, wasps often choose less than ideal places to nest, bringing them into conflict with people in lofts, wall cavities, sheds, and gardens. Where the nest location poses a health risk, treatment will generally be required to destroy the nest.
This typically involves a single chemical treatment applied directly to the nest or nest entrance, which will usually fully clear the colony. Additional treatments may occasionally be required where access to the nest is restricted.
Old wasp nests can be removed if they are accessible, usually on a separate visit once the nest has been cleared. Nests areare often hidden away so removal is not always practical. Wasps and hornets do not reuse old nests. The nests are made from paper and only last a single season. Where they are left in place, they are generally not a concern and disintegrate over the years.
Solitary Bee Species
There are around 270 species of solitary bee in the UK. The species we most commonly see causing concern are Mining Bees (Andrena) and Mason Bees (Osmia). Despite their name, they can often be seen in large numbers.
Typically, we see them entering gaps in wall cavities or burrowing into lawns. They do not form colonies in the same way many social species do, with it instead being large numbers of individual females forming their own small nests.
Although the females can sting, they present a very low risk of stinging. They are generally active for only 4–6 weeks before naturally dying off. They are also excellent pollinators.
There is generally no need to treat solitary bees, and treatment is usually unnecessary and impractical. Our advice is almost always to leave solitary bees alone and allow them to complete their natural life cycle over a few weeks.
Bumblebees
There are around 24 species of bumblebee in the UK. Like solitary bees, they are excellent pollinators and present a very low risk of stinging unless their nest is directly disturbed. Colonies naturally die off in autumn once they have completed their life cycle.
Occasionally, they nest in areas where action may be required, such as directly beside a doorway or inside a garden shed where regular access is needed.
Each situation should be individually assessed for feasibility. Relocation may be possible where nests are reasonably accessible.
We avoid using chemical treatments on bumblebees and would only consider treatment where there is a genuine health and safety risk, and where the colony can be fully sealed off afterwards. This is to avoid robber bees entering the treated nest and potentially contaminating their own colonies when they return home.
In the vast majority of cases, bumblebees can and should be left alone.
Honey Bees
Honey bees usually start causing the first issues earlier in the year when they begin to swarm. This is part of their natural reproductive cycle, where the colony splits in two. One half remains in place while the other leaves with a new queen to establish a new colony elsewhere.
Swarms will often temporarily stop to rest while scout bees search for a suitable new nesting location. This may be on a fence post, wall, tree, or similar surface. After a few days they will usually move on. If a swarm is causing concern, options include:
- Contacting your local beekeeping society to see if they are able to collect the swarm.
- Leaving the swarm to move on naturally. If they are resting out in the open they will usually leave after a few days, although this may unfortunately be into a nearby loft space or wall cavity, where removal becomes far more difficult.
The second issue honey bees commonly cause is when they enter buildings, including chimneys, wall cavities, and roof spaces.
In these situations, live removal is almost always required. This can be a large undertaking, involving exposing the colony, removing the bees and comb, and then making good the building afterwards.
Some people choose to leave honey bee colonies in place for many years without issue. However, older colonies are often much larger and can become significantly more difficult and costly to remove if problems later develop.
Established colonies are also likely to produce swarms each year as part of their natural reproductive cycle. These swarms may create new colonies nearby, which can then go on to cause their own issues within neighbouring properties.
Chemical treatment of honey bees is almost always a terrible idea and can create significant problems later on. Treatments are often ineffective and may simply drive the bees deeper into the building. The use of pesticides around honey bees also risks contaminating nearby colonies and honey that may ultimately form part of the human food chain. Misuse of pesticides in these situations can potentially breach pesticide regulations and has resulted in criminal prosecutions.
Finally, an untreated dead honey bee colony inside a wall or ceiling can itself cause significant issues, ranging from honey leaking through walls and ceilings to secondary infestations caused by wax, dead bees, and other organic material.
Summary
As shown above, the species causing the issue can make a huge difference to what action is required, which is why reliable identification is absolutely essential.
Once identified, an experienced pest controller can talk you through the available options and whether any action is actually required.
DIY methods of controlling stinging insects, aside from the obvious risk of ending up in A&E, can often create additional problems where the species has been incorrectly identified.
If you believe you have a wasp, hornet, or bee issue at your property, it is always best to contact a professional pest control company.
