Wasp Nest Removal Basingstoke - Oakley, Hampshire

Nest Building and Identification

1. Old Nests

• Wasps do not reuse old nests. If you have a nest from a previous year, there's no need to treat or remove it, as wasps build new nests each year.

2. Identifying Wasps, Bees, and Hornets

• In spring, congregated insects are likely bees. Later in the summer, large gatherings could be wasps. Close inspection is necessary to distinguish between them.

Wasps are striped yellow and black and upon close inspection have minimal fluffyness.

Honey bees are striped in various shades of light and dark brown and slightly fluffy (moreso than wasps).

Solitary bees usually are present in the spring and autumn, and the most common are mason bees (fluffy and golden - mostly seen in springtime)

and ivy bees (slightly fluffy striped yellow and brown - mostly seen in the autumn).

Bumblebees are very fluffy and black and are present from early spring to late summer.

Hornets are large (around an inch long) and rusty brown on their thorax and striped yellow and black on their abdomen.

3. Wasp Nest Development

• Wasp nests start in spring with a queen that has hibernated. In March-April, only queen wasps are present, and no workers.

4. Finding Wasp Nests

• Start looking for wasp nests in mid to late June when worker wasps are noticeable. Check your roof; if you see insects flying back and forth to the same spot, it indicates a new nest. Pay attention to areas with easy access, such as around lead flashings or lower down, like tile hanging on walls.

5. Ground Nesting

• Wasps do nest in the ground, usually taking over old mouse or rabbit burrows with one or two entry/exit holes. Multiple small holes indicate mining bees, not wasps.

6. Nesting in Bushes

• European wasps may build nests in bushes and hedges, but these nests are exposed to the elements despite being camouflaged.

7. Sudden Arrival of Insects

• If a large number of wasp-like insects suddenly appears, it's likely a swarm of honey bees. Contact your local beekeeping association to arrange for collection, as wasps do not swarm.