Honeybees and wasps are common in gardens, parks, and homes across Newcastle, Sunderland, and Durham. While they may appear similar at first glance, these insects have distinct differences in appearance, behaviour, and nest structures.
Appearance: Honeybee vs Wasp
- Size:
- Honeybees are smaller, measuring 10-15mm in length.
- Wasps are larger, ranging from 10-30mm.
- Body Shape:
- Honeybees have a plump, slightly rounded body.
- Wasps have a slender, elongated body with a narrow waist between the thorax and abdomen.
- Colour:
- Honeybees are golden or brownish-yellow with darker bands across their abdomen. Their bodies are covered in dense, fuzzy hairs.
- Wasps have brighter yellow and black stripes, with smoother bodies lacking the fuzz of a honeybee.
Do Wasps and Honeybees Sting?
Both honeybees and wasps can sting, but their stinging behaviour differs:
- Wasps have smooth stingers and can sting multiple times. Their sting injects venom, causing pain and swelling, and can trigger allergic reactions in some people. Wasps sting when they feel threatened or their nest is disturbed.
- Honeybees can only sting once. Their barbed stingers get lodged in the victim’s skin, and as they fly away, the stinger pulls out, causing the bee to die. Only female honeybees sting. Unlike worker bees, the queen bee has a smooth stinger, which she mainly uses to fight rival queens.
Wasp Nests vs Honeybee Nests
Wasp Nests:
- Structure: Made from chewed wood and saliva, wasp nests resemble lightweight, durable, and waterproof papier-mâché. The nest has multiple open cells with a single entry point.
- Shape: A distinct ball-shaped structure, made up of hexagonal cells where larvae grow.
- Size: Wasp nests vary in size, from small to several feet in diameter. At peak summer activity, a nest can house up to 10,000 wasps.
- Location: Wasps build their nests in sheltered spots with easy access to the outside. You may find them in wall cavities, attics, or holes in the ground around homes in Newcastle, Sunderland, and Durham.
Honeybee Nests:
- Structure: Honeybee nests are made from beeswax, secreted by worker bees.
- Shape: Unlike wasp nests, honeybee nests consist of multiple vertical combs, with hexagonal cells to house larvae and store honey.
- Size: The nest can range from a few combs to dozens.
- Location: Honeybees nest in sheltered places such as tree cavities, hollow logs, and sometimes in chimneys or wall cavities. This can cause a nuisance as honey may seep out, attracting other pests like wasps.
How Long Do Nests Last?
- Wasp Nests are abandoned in autumn or early winter and are not reused. A single nest can produce around 100 fertile queens who hibernate and establish new nests the following year.
- Honeybee Nests are more permanent, lasting indefinitely as new queens may take over and continue to grow the colony.
Do Wasps and Honeybees Swarm?
- Honeybees Swarm: A honeybee swarm occurs when the colony becomes overcrowded. The old queen leaves with thousands of worker bees to establish a new colony. You might see these swarms clustering on tree branches or buildings in the North East.
- Wasps Do Not Swarm: Wasps do not swarm in the same way as honeybees, so seeing a wasp swarm is unlikely.
Why Rehome a Honeybee Swarm?
Honeybees are essential pollinators and play a crucial role in the environment. If you come across a honeybee swarm in Newcastle, Sunderland, or Durham, it’s best to contact a professional pest control service or beekeeper to safely rehome them, reducing the risk of them nesting in difficult-to-reach areas.