Types of Wasp
Wasps are aggressive defenders of their colonies and one of the most common pest call-outs we deal with each summer in your area. There are several species in the UK - knowing which is in your home tells you how aggressive they are likely to be, where they will nest, and how to deal with them safely.
UK Wasp Species
Common and German Wasp
If you have ever been stung by a wasp, the culprit was probably one of these species - the most common across the entire UK. They build nests indoors with easy access outside, with lofts and wall cavities particular favourites. Practically the entire nest dies in winter - only a few young queens survive to restart the colony in spring.
Hornets
Easily identified by their large size - the biggest wasps in the UK - and distinctive brown thoracic markings. Although they look scary, they are not attracted to human food and will only attack if the nest is threatened. The whole nest will be mobilised, and with up to 700 workers this could be dangerous.
Tree Wasp
Unlikely to nest in your home - as the name suggests, they prefer trees and outdoor locations. Identified by a single black dot on their face. Often quite aggressive, but unless they nest in your garden you should not have much trouble. Active May to August, a shorter season than other wasps.
Median Wasp
Like the tree wasp, lives and nests outside and may not become a nuisance unless in your garden. Forages around bushes and trees. Often mistaken for hornets due to size, and aggressive when threatened. Identified by four black spots on the yellow part of the abdomen.
Wasps vs Honeybees
- Wasps are slender with a narrow waist; bees are rounder with no distinguishable waist
- Wasps tend to be brighter; bees share similar colours but duller
- Wasps have a smooth, shiny appearance; bees are covered in tiny hairs
- Wasps can sting repeatedly; honeybees sting once and die
Detection of Nest
- Wasp nests often go unnoticed until they reach a decent size
- Wasps do not swarm around the nest the way bees do
- Look for increased wasp presence in your home or garden
- Monitor flight paths of returning wasps to locate the nest
Wasp Lifecycle and Behaviour
The behaviour of a wasp depends on where it is in its lifecycle, which can be roughly divided into four phases - and knowing which phase you are dealing with helps decide how urgent removal is.
Hibernation (Sep-Apr)
- Large numbers die from starvation, not cold
- Only a few queens survive to establish new colonies
- Queens sheltering in houses can confuse homeowners in spring
- A spring queen sighting rarely indicates an active nest
Colony Founding (late Apr-May)
- Queen feeds herself and starts building a small nest
- She lays the first eggs alone
- Nest is golf-ball sized at this stage
- Best time to remove - before workers emerge
Colony Growth (late May-Nov)
- First worker drones hatch and take over the work
- Nest grows rapidly through summer
- Can reach thousands of workers by August
- Treatment becomes more dangerous as the colony grows
Procreation Phase (Summer-Early Autumn)
The final lifecycle phase involves the queen's sexual progeny - normal males and the females she has turned into queens - mating to ensure the colony survives the winter. At this point, the grubs within the nest that worker wasps have been surviving on start dying, forcing them to find alternative food.
This is when wasps become a more visible nuisance to humans trying to eat outside, and the point at which most pest controllers are contacted.
Likely Wasp Nest Locations
Are Wasps Protected?
No - wasps are not an endangered species and are not protected by the World Wildlife Fund or any UK wildlife law. They are widely considered a pest and should be exterminated when nesting near people.
The vast majority of wasps will die during the winter, and pest controllers should be called in as soon as an infestation is detected within a home or garden to deal with them effectively. Disturbing a nest without protection releases alarm pheromones that can trigger mass stinging within seconds.