The difference between wasps, bees, hornets and hoverfly

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has produced a guide outlining the differences between wasps, bees, hornets and hoverflies.

The guide aims to highlight which species are considered to be pests and the roles ‘things that go buzz’ have to play in gardening and agriculture.

Dee Ward-Thompson, head of technical at BPCA, said: “Our ‘things that go buzz’ guide is a really useful tool for anyone who sees – or hears – an insect buzzing around their home, garden, or business.

“There are many species of wasp, bee and hoverfly that are not classed as pests and are unlikely to pose a risk to health.

“And even species that are considered to be pests, such as common wasps, can still be safely left alone if they are not in a place where they are likely to come into conflict with people.

“However, a nest near a high-traffic area can cause a problem and we would recommend contacting a pest management professional such as a BPCA member for advice.

“Wasp, hornet and bee stings can cause anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency and should be treated urgently.”

The Common wasp and German wasps

According to the BPCA, 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.

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.

Non-pest wasps are the red wasp (identified by the red tinge on their abdomens), saxon wasp (identified by a single yellow line running from behind the head to each wing) tree wasp (with yellow-and-black bands and a noticeably long stinger) and digger wasp which tend to be thinner that common wasps, with bold markings.

There's also the Mason/potter wasp (large and mostly black and around 1/2 inch in size and the spider wasp with a slender body that's usually dark. 

Asian Hornets and European Hornets

European hornets are twice the size of a wasp with brown and yellow markings and are not a common sight.

Meanwhile, Asian hornets are black or dark brown and 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 eat honeybees and if you spot one, the BPCA says they should be reported to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Non-native Species Secretariat immediately.

Hoverfly

There are over 270 species of hoverfly in Britain. 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.

Bees

Western honey bees are providers of honey. 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.

Other bumblebees include the common carder bee, early bumblebee, red-tailed bumblebee, small garden bumblebee, tree bumblebee, white-tailed bumblebee, ivy bee, red mason bee and tawny mining bee.

Dee added: “It can be a worry if there is something buzzing around and you’re not sure what it is.

“Buzzing insects are generally more active during warm weather – which is when people tend to be outside more too.

“Our guide will help you identify if it is something that can be left to peacefully pollinate your petunias, or whether you may need to call on the services of a pest professional.”

The ‘Things that go buzz’ advice sheet is available at bpca.org.uk/buzz

To find a professional pest controller visit bpca.org.uk/find.