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
If your newly detected flying insects are stopping you from
enjoying the summer and would like your local Pestforce technician
to remove them for you, contact us today to book an appointment
0333 567 0577
or click here to find your local technician.
https://www.pest-force.co.uk/
