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Wasps

People tend to mix wasps (Vespidae), honeybees (Anthophila) ja bumble-bees (Bombus) with each other even though they look different and are thus also different species.

Yes, they all belong to Hymenoptera order and Aculeata subclade. Honeybee and bumble-bee also belong to Apidae family. Meaning that they all are poisonous insects, who love to eat nectar and pollen. They also have a sting, but they use it differently. Wasps tend to use its sting to cripple its catch and to defend itself. However, honeybee and bumble-bee tend to sting humans only when protecting their nest.

Removing wasp nest

Identi­fication

Wasp (about 18-25 mm) has transparent wings as well as horizontal lines and a sting in its body.

Mid body of Honeybee (about 12-20 mm) is filled with hair. Its back body is however filled with horizontal brown or black-coloured “belt-like” lines.

Bumble-bee (about 25 mm) is a fat and very hairy creature. Its hair can be completely black or partly yellowish. Its mid body can be reddish brown or light grey.

Nest

Wasp:
Adult female (who survives winter time) builds the nest e.g. to the ground, under the eves or to the attic. Wasps build their home out of chewed-up vegetable fibre, glued together until it resembles a papery stack of recycled carton with a hole at the bottom.

Bumble-bee:
Adult female (who survives winter time) builds the nest e.g. to the cavity on the ground, to the decomposing tree or wall structure. When the nest is finished, it looks like a grey honeycomb.

Honeybee:
In Finland, honeybees tend to live only in the honeycombs structured by humans, who want to make their living e.g. from the honey honeybees produce. However, new wild species of honeybees have recently been located also in Finland.

Wasp control, i.e. wasp nest removal

At first, the nest shall be located e.g. by following the insects’ movement. Then the nest is removed either only mechanically and/or with the help of appropriate pesticides. Appropriate protective equipment will be always used.

Please, contact us, when you need pest control help with the wasps!