The wasp (Vespidae) season is now fast approaching and the Queens are just starting to make their nests.
Don’t get these insects confused with bees though, who at the moment, are starting to swarm. Bees will only swarm for a couple of days before moving on, so don’t worry about these and let them go about their busy work in making us delicious honey.
Wasps and bees both belong to the Hymenoptera order of insects and both can have a nasty sting in their tail if you are unlucky enough to get stung. If you have been unlucky enough to be stung by a yellow-jacket wasp or a honeybee and their nest is within 15 feet, then within 15 seconds, an alarm signal is sent out in the form of a scent. Their army of buddies will then hunt you down and sting you many more times seeking revenge.
It is worth trying to identify if you have been stung by a bee or wasp to enable you get the correct treatment and decide if you need some form of pest control.
Differences between a wasp and a bee:
- A wasp is narrow waisted with a thorax & abdomen (mid and rear segments) – the space between is commonly known as the wasp waist with slender legs shaped like cylinders. A bee’s body is more robust and round without the narrow waist and has flat back legs for gathering pollen.
- Bees are furry, with lots of delicate little hairs, whereas a wasp will have smooth shiny skin.
- A wasp will have its wings lengthwise when resting.
- Bees only tend to attack when provoked and would prefer to go about their business. Wasp are naturally aggressive.
- Bees can sting only once and then die after attacking, a wasp is capable of stinging several times.
- Wasp are generally more brightly coloured with black and yellow striped markings. Bees tend to have darker striations with black, brown, yellow and orange; some even have entirely black bodies.
To avoid being stung try not to panic.
Do not wave & flap your arms about as this frightens the wasp & they will then resort to attack mode.
If you are outside enjoying a picnic in the sun try to keep sugary foods covered.
Although wasps get a lot of bad press and can be a nuisance when disturbed they are actually good to have in the garden as they eat some of the more unwelcome insects that feed on your plants.
Wasps are interesting to watch (from a safe distance) whilst they make their nests. During the start of wasp season they will be busy collecting insects to eat and building their nest but can also spoil our summer days out if we stop them going about their business or tempt them with the smell of sugary foods. The wasp season starts in May and last until approximately October, but when the weather is mild can go on through to November. After this period the Queen wasp will go into hibernation for Winter.
If you find a nest in your garden, please don’t try to treat it yourself, as one customer once tried (with petrol)! They managed to set their own, and their neighbours, fence alight so you can guess who was not too pleased with the fire display.
Be aware that some of the over counter products are also not always strong enough to treat a larger wasp nest which could need stronger treatments and chemicals. Isca Pest Control have the training, experience, equipment & industry approved chemicals for the correct treatment and removal of wasp. We also offer a guarantee of removal and will return free of charge for the same nest if there is still a problem after treatment.
We remove, control and eradicate wasp and hornets in the Exeter, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton and surrounding Devon areas.