Wasps

What does a wasp look like?

A wasp has a narrow waist between its thorax and abdomen, smooth and almost hairless skin, and bright yellow and black bands. Worker wasps are around 12 to 17mm long, and queens are larger, at about 20mm. In flight, wasps hold their legs close to the body, which gives them a slimmer outline than a bee.

Wasp vs bee vs bumblebee

	Wasp	Honeybee	Bumblebee
Body	Narrow waist, smooth and shiny	Narrow waist, light fuzz	Round and densely furry
Colour	Bright yellow and black bands	Golden-brown and black	Black with yellow or orange bands, often a white or red tail
Stinging	Can sting more than once	Usually dies after stinging a person	Rarely stings
Food	Sugar for adults, insects for larvae	Pollen and nectar	Pollen and nectar
Nest	Papery, made from chewed wood	Wax comb, usually in a hive	Small colony, often underground or in dense grass

All three are black and yellow, so the confusion is understandable. The smooth body and narrow waist are the quickest way to tell a wasp apart. If you're unsure whether a large insect is a wasp or a hornet, see how to tell a wasp from a hornet.

Types of wasps in the UK

Two species account for most wasps found in UK gardens and homes.

Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris): the wasp most people picture, with a black anchor-shaped mark on the face. It usually nests underground, in wall cavities, lofts or sheds.

German wasp (Vespula germanica): almost identical in appearance and behaviour, but with three small black dots on the face instead of an anchor mark. Treatment and prevention advice is the same for both species.

How a wasp nest develops through the year

Each nest is started in spring by a single queen who has survived the winter in hibernation. She builds a nest about the size of a golf ball and raises the first workers herself. From then on the workers take over, and by late summer a mature nest can hold several thousand wasps and be larger than a football.

This is why timing matters. A nest found in May is small and the colony is not yet defensive. The same nest in August is far larger and its workers will defend it as a group.

In autumn the colony breaks down. New queens leave to find somewhere to hibernate, the remaining workers die off, and the nest is abandoned. Wasps do not reuse an old nest the following year, although a sheltered loft or eave that suited one queen may attract another.

From our technicians

[COLIN: two or three sentences of first-hand observation. For example, where Anticimex UK technicians find nests most often, the largest nest he has dealt with and where it was, or the most common mistake homeowners make before calling. Real observations only.]

Are wasps dangerous?

For most people, a wasp sting causes pain, redness and swelling that settle within a day or two. Unlike a honeybee, a wasp keeps its stinger, so a single wasp can sting more than once if it feels threatened. The real risks are a disturbed nest, where many wasps can sting in quick succession, and a sting in someone who is allergic, which can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis.

Call 999 if, after a sting, someone has swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash. These are signs of anaphylaxis and need emergency treatment.

For an ordinary sting, wash the area with soap and water, apply a cold compress and take a painkiller or antihistamine if needed. Most symptoms clear within 24 to 48 hours. Speak to a pharmacist or GP if the swelling is large or keeps spreading. The NHS guidance on insect bites and stings has full advice. If repeated stings are coming from a nest on your property, consider professional wasp nest removal.

How to prevent wasps nesting near your home

Check lofts, sheds, garages and eaves in April and May, when a new nest is still small.
Seal gaps in eaves, air bricks and roof tiles that a queen could use to get in.
Keep outdoor bins closed and away from doors and windows. Wasps are drawn to sugary and protein-rich waste.
Cover food and sweet drinks when eating outside from July onwards.
Traps and deterrent sprays can reduce wasp activity in one spot, but they won't remove an established nest.

If you find an active nest, especially from midsummer onwards or anywhere you can't reach easily, professional wasp nest removal is the safer option. A disturbed nest defends itself as a group, and a nest inside a wall cavity or roof space is hard to treat fully with a shop-bought spray.

Wasps vs hornets

Hornets are sometimes mistaken for large wasps, but they are handled differently. One species, the Asian or yellow-legged hornet, must be reported to the authorities rather than treated privately. Our guide to hornets in the UK explains how to identify each one and what to do.

Frequently asked questions about wasps

How do I get rid of wasps?

Find the nest, keep people and pets away from it and arrange professional treatment, particularly for nests found from July onwards, when colonies are largest and most defensive. A shop-bought spray can work on a small, exposed nest found early in spring, but avoid DIY treatment for nests in wall cavities, lofts or anywhere hard to reach safely.

What do wasps eat?

Adult wasps feed on sugars from fruit, nectar and sweet drinks. The larvae in the nest are fed insects caught by the workers. In late summer the nest stops producing larvae, so the adults turn to sugar, which is why wasps gather around food and drink at that time of year.

Do wasps sting more than once?

Yes. A wasp's stinger doesn't detach after use, so the same wasp can sting repeatedly if it keeps feeling threatened.

How long does a wasp sting last?

Pain and swelling usually settle within a day or two. Get medical help if swelling spreads well beyond the sting, or call 999 if breathing becomes difficult or a widespread rash develops.

Do wasps come back to the same nest?

No. Nests are used for one season only and abandoned in autumn. A sheltered spot can attract a new queen the following spring, so it's worth checking it again in April or May.