Do you know the difference between your flying pests?

As the days get warmer and the nights get longer you will notice the return of our buzzing friends. Whilst they are usually happy going about their life, many can cause harm and distress to us so it helps to understand their differences.

Here are the characteristics of our most common species, which ones are bothering you?

Honey Bee

Colour: Amber and black striped body

Hair: Short, furry looking

Size: 2.5cm

Sting: The barb is removed after it stings, which kills the bee

Food: Pollen and nectar from flowers

Lighting: Not attracted to the light

Nesting: Vertically hanging, wax based honeycomb nests

Nature: Gentle

Bumble Bee

Colour: Yellow and black stripes

Hair: Long, furry looking

Size: 1.3cm

Sting: The barb retracts, so it can sting again

Food: Pollen and nectar from flowers

Lighting: Not attracted to the light

Nesting: Small nests in soil cavities

Nature: Gentle

Yellow Jacket Wasp

Colour: Bright yellow and black stripes

Hair: No hair

Size: 1.3cm

Sting: The barb retracts, so it can sting again

Food: Sugary food/ drinks, over ripe fruit, human food waste

and other insects

Lighting: Not attracted to the light

Nesting: Horizontally hanging, small paper like nests in protected

areas such as lofts, soil cavities and eaves

Nature: Aggressive

Hornet

Colour: Yellow and black stripes

Hair: Some short hair

Size: 3.5cm

Sting: The barb retracts, so it can sting again

Food: Other insects

Lighting: Attracted to lights at night

Nesting: Very large paper like nests in protected areas such as tree hollows

Nature: Aggressive

https://www.pest-force.co.uk/