Quick comparison
| Insect | Appearance | Nest | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common wasp | Smooth, bright yellow and black, narrow waist | Grey papery nest in lofts, walls, sheds, ground | Can be treated if near people |
| Honeybee | Golden-brown, slightly fuzzy, slimmer than a bumblebee | Wax comb in chimneys, wall cavities, hollow trees; swarms hang in clusters | Contact a beekeeper; do not treat |
| Bumblebee | Large, round, very furry, often with a white or orange tail | Small nests in bird boxes, compost, under sheds and in the ground | Leave alone; colonies die off by late summer |
| Masonry or mining bee | Small, solitary, often brown or ginger | Individual holes in soft mortar or bare soil | Harmless; leave alone or repoint mortar later |
| European hornet | Large, brown and yellow, deep buzz | Brown papery nest in trees, sheds, lofts | Can be treated if near people |
Behaviour
Wasps scavenge for sugar and meat, so they come to picnics, bins and drinks, especially in late summer. Bees visit flowers and are rarely interested in your food. Bumblebees are gentle and very unlikely to sting unless handled.
Why we do not treat bees
Honeybees and bumblebees are essential pollinators and their numbers are under pressure. We only consider treatment where bees are in a dangerous position and cannot be safely removed by a beekeeper. For honeybee swarms, see what to do about a bee swarm.
Questions and answers
Do bees sting like wasps?
Honeybees can sting once and then die. Bumblebees rarely sting. Wasps can sting repeatedly.
Do bumblebee nests last all year?
No. A bumblebee colony lasts one season and dies off by late summer or autumn.
What are the small holes in my brickwork?
Usually solitary masonry bees, which are harmless. Repointing soft mortar in winter stops them using it.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not a substitute for an on-site inspection.