Identify the differences between wasps, hornets, bees and more

Everything that buzzes around your garden is potentially a pollinator. These fascinating insects are incredibly useful; not just in the garden, but also in agriculture, with many crops dependent on pollination.

There are thousands of species of buzzing insects, and the majority are not classed as a pest. And while you might see headlines about the ‘murder hornet’ you’re almost definitely not going to see one in your back garden.

But some wasps and hornets can be a public health risk if they are in the wrong place. This handy guide helps you identify if your buzzing visitors are a pest and whether you should call in professional help.

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Pest wasps

Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and German wasp (Vespula germanica)

Treating a wasp nest can be very dangerous. Wasps inside the nest will feel threatened and often become aggressive.

This could cause them to sting you and others as they defend their nest resulting in multiple stings. Unlike bees, wasps do not die after one sting, they can, and will, sting you quite a few times!

These two species are almost identical, but you can tell them apart by their facial and thorax markings. Common wasps generally have an ‘anchor’ shaped black marking on the front of their face, while German wasps have either an incomplete version of this, or three distinctive black dots on yellow.

Both species are social and have a single queen who produces 3,000 to 8,000 workers. They make football-sized nests in the ground or in roofs and trees, which they abandon after the summer and don’t return to the following year.

Wasps will usually only attack a person if they feel threatened – and may call for back up! Wasps can emit a pheromone that sends nearby colony members into a defensive, stinging frenzy. Wasp stings are at best painful, and at worst fatal – they can send you into anaphylaxis. Wasps should only be treated if they pose a risk to public health and safety.

More about wasps

Help with wasps

Wasps have the potential to hurt you if their nest is disturbed. That’s why we can only recommend using a properly trained and qualified Pest control Professional

We have the expertise and equipment to do the job safely.

If you need further help with identifying a buzzing insect, you can contact us now.

Hornets

European hornets (Vespa crabro)

Twice the size of a wasp with brown and yellow markings, the European Hornet is not a common sight. They only occasionally enter houses so if there is increased hornet activity around your home or business, call a professional pest controller for advice.

Asian hornet (Vespa velutina)

Black or dark brown, key features are a distinct yellow band at the rear, a fine, bright yellow ‘belt’ at the waist and a black head with orange or yellow face.

Asian hornets have been seen in Britain since 2016 and are an invasive predatory species that could have a devastating impact on British wildlife.

They’re slightly smaller than our native hornets and have a dark abdomen and a fourth yellow segment.   Another way to tell the difference is that Asian hornets have bright yellow tips to the legs while our native hornets have dark legs.

Asian hornets eat honeybees and if you spot one, it should be reported to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Non-native Species Secretariat immediately.

The Department is working with experienced pest professionals as it endeavours to eradicate Asian hornets in the UK. You can report a sighting by emailing:

alertnonnative@ceh.ac.uk

Giant Asian hornets (Vespa mandarinia)

Giant Asian hornets have striking yellow heads, a black mid-section, and yellow and black or brown striped abdomen. Importantly – there have been no recorded sightings of Giant Asian hornets (also known as ‘murder hornets’) in the UK.

These predators are native to East Asia and Japan and have become infamous for decimating honeybee colonies. With the toxic venom that their large stingers deliver, the insect is responsible for an estimated 30 to 50 human deaths a year in Japan.

Non-pest wasps

There are approximately 9,000 species of wasp in the UK, and most never come into conflict with humans!

Red wasp (Vespula rufa)

Red wasps can be identified by the red tinge on their abdomens. They are a social species that build small nests underground. A single queen will produce around 300 workers.

Saxon wasp (Dolichovespula saxonica)

Can be spotted by the single yellow line running from behind the head to each wing.

They do not become violent unless their nest is threatened.

Tree wasp (Dolichovespula sylvestris)

A medium-sized wasp with conspicuous long hairs on the face and head as well as a completely black mid-section. Not usually a problem around humans, with no interest in entering buildings or human food, it can sting if the nest is threatened.

Wood wasp (Siricidae)

With yellow-and-black bands and a noticeably long stinger, the giant horntail or wood wasp looks like a large wasp, but is harmless to us.

The females lay eggs in pine trees, where the larvae develop for up to five years. This can result in the adults sometimes emerging from wood used for building or even furniture!

Digger wasp (Sphecidae)

There are over 110 species of Digger wasp in Britain.

Female Digger wasps burrow into the ground when nesting. They tend to be thinner that common wasps, with bold markings.

Mason/Potter wasp (Eumeninae)

Mason wasps are large and mostly black and around 1/2 inch in size.

Mason wasps use cracks and holes in wood and abandoned beetle burrows for their nests.

Spider wasp (Pompilidae)

The slender body is usually dark; in many cases the wings are smoky or yellowish. Most can run rapidly on legs that are long and spiny.

They can inflict a very painful sting, but rarely sting humans unless threatened.

Honey bees

Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Providers of honey and almost universally viewed with affection in the UK.

They rarely present problems as pests. However, feral swarms can set up home in undesirable places such as chimneys and wall cavities.

Honey bees are small and vary in colour from golden brown to almost black.

If you believe you have a honeybee colony in your home contact a professional pest controller.

BPCA recommends live removal and re-homing of honeybees wherever possible, with lethal treatment only as a last resort.

If you discover a swarm near your home that has not moved on after a few days, you can contact Us or seek advice from a beekeeper.

Bees are great!

Forget about honey for a minute – bees pollinate about a third of everything we eat!

More about bees

Bumblebees

Bumblebees are social insects; they live in a colony with a queen and her offspring (the workers). There are 25 types of Bumblebee in the UK.

Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

Found in many habitats including gardens, the Common Carder Bee is one of only three all-ginger species in the UK.

Males, workers and queens are ginger-brown all over with no clearly-delineated tail. Females usually have creamy-white sides to the thorax while males are often yellower, with more obvious facial hair tufts.

Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)

A small species, which can be seen as early as April or May, the Early Bumblebee has a red tail which varies in hue with the yellow abdominal stripe frequently less visible in workers.

Males are often extensively yellow, including very obvious yellow facial hairs.

Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

A common sight in the UK, queens and workers are jet-black, with a bright red tail covering up to 50% of the abdomen.

Small garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)

A widespread species, often found in gardens, where it is one of two common species found visiting foxgloves.

These bees have yellow-black-yellow black patterns with a pure white tail.

Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

Found in gardens and woodlands across the UK despite only first arriving in the country in 2001.

The Tree Bumblebee is a very distinctive species, with a completely ginger-brown mid-section, black abdomen and white tail.

White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

A typical black-and-yellow species found in habitats across the UK.

The species has a lemon-yellow collar behind the head, another bright yellow band in the middle and a pure white tail. Males have bright yellow facial hairs.

Solitary bees

Ivy bee (Colletes hederae)

The Ivy Bee was first recorded here in 2001. It feeds on the nectar of ivy flowers and is mainly seen in autumn when the plant is in bloom. The Ivy Bee looks like a cross between a honey bee and a wasp, with an orangey-brown, hairy mid-section and distinct black and yellow stripes on its abdomen.

Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis)

A common, gingery bee that may nest in the crumbling mortar of old walls, the Red Mason Bee is covered in thick gingery hair. Males have a white tuft of hair on their face.

Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva)

One of the most recognisable solitary spring-fliers, Tawny Mining Bees have dense orange/red hair across their mid-section and abdomen. They can be found nesting in urban environments and garden lawns.

Hoverflies

Hoverfly (Syrphidae)

In Britain there are over 270 species of hoverfly.

The larger species are often brightly coloured and very common.

Many of these have ornate body patterns, often of black and yellow, said to mimic wasps and bees. However, they are harmless and do not sting.

Need help identifying something that buzzes?

Ask an expert. Give us a call on 0121 537 1000.