For the untrained eye, bees and wasps may just look the same. This is why most people don’t even know how to distinguish between these two stinging insects. However, knowing the difference between wasps and bees can go a long way to help experts in pest control Dublin deal with them properly and effectively.

Wasps and bees are often feared and dreaded for their painful stings, but believe it or not, these insects are separated by an evolution of 130 million years, resulting in major differences in their anatomy, nest structure, and behaviour.

While bees have an important role to play in the life cycle of most plants, wasps don’t pollinate and may even be a nuisance to humans.

The following are the three primary methods you can use to help you distinguish wasps and bees from each other.

Anatomy

Bees, including honeybees and bumblebees, are fuzzy. Wasps, on the other hand, are noticeably smooth. Wasps can also be black and yellow, or completely black. Meanwhile, bees have two colours with stripes on their abdomen.

With yellow jacket wasps as the only exception, most wasps are bigger compared to honeybees. Their legs are also longer, and their midsection is also more tapered, connecting the abdomen and the thorax.

The overall aggressive appearance of wasps suits their temperament, and they even have a stinger with multiple uses to back it up.

Behaviour

The honeybees live in big colonies known as hives made up of thousands of members that work together to collect the pollen and nectar required for the production of honey. Once they feel threatened, bees will fight to defend and protect their hives. But without any threats, most honeybees exhibit less aggression compared to wasps.

The stinger of honey bees has a barbed tip that tears out from the insect after it stung, which results in the death of the bee. This is why the stinger of honey bees is only a one-time use weapon that encourages more defensive behaviour instead of offensive.

On the other hand, wasps are more predatory. They don’t spread pollen, collect nectar, or produce honey. These insects mainly survive by feeding on other insects. Some wasps also rely on scavenging. Wasps are also more inclined to show aggression, with straight-tipped stingers that can easily deliver multiple painful stings that won’t injure the insect, unlike in the case of bees.

Hives and Nests

 

You can easily distinguish wasps from bees by looking at the location, building material, and shape of their hives and nests. Honey bees and their fuzzier and fatter cousins, the bumble bees, often live in hives made from a waxy substance. You can spot a honeycomb cell pattern attached to trees, in attics, and exposed in bushes, especially if they cannot find better locations. However, beehives shouldn’t look papery.

The nests of wasps are made of a papery substance with an umbrella-like shape with open cells on the lower part. They may also have a bulbous shape and be smooth with paper walls. You can often find wasp nests in roofs, eves, corners, and other structures. These papery nests can hold several hundred of these insects.

Yellow jacket wasps may also seek refuge in your attic. Some even build their nests in the ground, holding thousands of these stinging predators. It is also important to note that wasp nests don’t contain wax or honey.

Benefits of Bees and Wasps to the Ecosystem

Even though most people are aware of the benefits of bees to the ecosystem, many may not be familiar with the fact that wasps also have their role in the environment. This is despite being infamously known as an aggressive nuisance.

As you might already know, bees are amazing pollinators. With the help of the hairy short legs, bees can collect and transport more than 80% of the pollen that most vegetable-seed plants, fruits, and legumes need to reproduce.

If all the bees on the planet were extinct, there would be a drastic change in the human diet because most of the available foods would diminish or even disappear without the help of bee pollination. In particular, coffee would become rare and expensive because the coffee flower only opens for pollination during a window period of a few days per year.

The next time you feel tempted to stomp on the bee that lands on the cup of your morning coffee you are enjoying outside on your porch, you might want to think twice and consider the benefits that bee pollen has to offer.

While wasps may not be excellent as pollinators like honeybees, they still serve their purpose. Wasps act more as natural pest control. These predators feed their young with other insects. Preying mainly on flies, crickets, and caterpillars, just to mention a few, the hostile wasps can help in controlling the population of different insects that can kill valuable crops.

Seeing a yellow jacket might make you want to destroy it right away, especially if it startled you with its intimidating appearance. However, as long as their nest is located at a safe distance away from your home, your best course of action, in this case, is to just leave the wasp alone.

While bees and wasps are two insects that you wouldn’t want to nest near or inside your home, proper identification of the insect can help you determine a suitable plan of action to deal with them accordingly.

Physical appearance, behaviour, and nesting habits are the three major things you should watch out for to know which of these two pests is causing you trouble.

But if you fear or suspect that you might already be facing a serious bee or wasp infestation around or in your home, you should make the move before it gets worse. The good news is that all it takes is a phone call to the experts on pest control Dublin and you can finally free yourself from the worries of knowing that some bees or wasps may bring harm to you and your family.

Don't hesitate to contact The Wasp Specialist in Dublin for your wasp nest removal needs.

If you have noticed a wasp nest in your shed, it is essential to take action before the infestation becomes a bigger problem. Wasps are aggressive and can be dangerous, especially if you have an allergy to their stings. In this blog, we will discuss the risks associated with a wasp nest in a shed and recommend using a professional service to ensure the safe removal of the nest.

Risks Associated with a Wasp Nest in Sheds

A wasp nest in a shed can pose various risks to you and your property. Here are some of the most common risks associated with a wasp nest in shed:

1. Wasp stings: Wasps are aggressive when they feel threatened, and their stings can be extremely painful, especially if you have an allergy. Wasps can sting multiple times, which can lead to severe health complications, including anaphylaxis.

2. Structural damage: Wasps can chew through wood, cardboard, and other materials to build their nests. Over time, this can cause significant structural damage to your shed, which can be costly to repair.

3. Infestation: A single wasp nest in your shed can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation if left untreated. The more wasps you have in your shed, the higher the risk of being stung.

4. Property damage: Wasps can cause damage to your property, including chewing through electrical wires and other materials.

5. Health risks: Wasps can carry harmful bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, which can cause serious health problems if they come into contact with food or other surfaces in your shed.

Another risk associated with wasp nests in sheds is that they can attract other pests such as rodents and birds. These pests are attracted to the sweet nectar produced by the wasps and will often try to steal it from the nest. This can lead to further damage to your shed and increase the risk of infestations.

How to Identify a Wasp Nest in your Shed

Identifying a wasp nest in your shed is the first step to taking action to remove it safely. Here are some signs that you may have a wasp nest in your shed:

1. Increased wasp activity: If you notice an increase in wasp activity in or around your shed, there is a good chance that you have a nest nearby.

2. Visible nest: Wasps build their nests out of a papery material that resembles gray or brown cardboard. If you can see a visible nest in your shed, it is essential to take action immediately.

3. Presence of wasps: If you notice a high number of wasps flying around your shed, it is likely that there is a nest nearby.

4. Chewed wood or cardboard: If you notice that wood or cardboard in your shed has been chewed, it could be a sign that wasps are building a nest.

 

How to Remove a Wasp Nest in Shed

Removing a wasp nest in a shed is not a task that should be taken lightly. It is essential to take the proper precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of others in the area. Here are some tips for removing a wasp nest in your shed:

1. Wear protective clothing: Before attempting to remove a wasp nest, it is essential to wear protective clothing, including long sleeves, pants, and gloves. It is also recommended to wear a hat with a veil to protect your face.

2. Use a wasp spray: You can purchase a wasp spray from your local hardware store to remove the nest. Follow the instructions carefully and ensure that you are using the spray in a well-ventilated area.

3. Seal off the area: Once you have removed the nest, it is essential to seal off the area to prevent wasps from returning. Use caulk or another sealant to cover any gaps or holes in your shed.

4. Dispose of the nest: After removing the nest, it is important to dispose of it properly. Seal the nest in a plastic bag and dispose of it in your outdoor trash bin.