How to identify wasps and nests

What a common wasp looks like

The common wasp is black and yellow with a clear narrow waist and a black anchor-shaped mark on its face. It is up to 2 cm long and smooth, not fuzzy.

Wasp, bee or hornet?

Honey bees are fuzzy and golden-brown, and bumblebees are round and fluffy with broad bands of colour. Both are pollinators and should be left alone. Honey bees are not legally protected, but a swarm should go to a beekeeper, not a pest controller.

Hornets are much bigger. Wasps measure 12 to 17 mm, whereas hornets are 25 to 35 mm and brown and yellow. For a honey bee swarm, contact a local beekeeper through the BBKA.

The yellow-legged hornet

The yellow-legged hornet, often called the Asian hornet, has a dark body, yellow-tipped legs and an orange face. Do not treat it yourself. Photograph it from a distance and report it through the Asian Hornet Watch app or the online form.

There is no statutory duty to report one that we could find, so this is an official request. Sightings are rising: 2025 had 544 credible sightings and about 162 nests, against 24 nests in 2024 and 72 in 2023, according to the BBKA.

What a wasp nest looks like

A wasp nest is made of grey-brown papery layers. It grows through the summer, so a nest seen in June is much smaller than one in August. Look for it in lofts, sheds, wall cavities, under eaves or in the ground. A mature nest can hold 5,000 to 10,000 wasps by August.

A steady stream of wasps going to one spot means a nest, and the wasps will often be coming and going from a small hole. Nests are annual and never reused, so an old nest found in winter is empty.

When you will see them

A lone, large wasp in spring is likely to be a queen. Queens emerge from March to May to look for a place to nest. By August a nest may hold thousands of wasps, so many wasps at a bin or a drink at the end of summer point to a nest nearby. The Wildlife Trusts say wasps are active from April to October, and the first hard frosts kill the workers.

If you are stung

Scrape the sting out sideways, wash the area and use a cold pack. Stings are usually minor. Call 999 if there is swelling of the mouth or throat, or trouble breathing, because this can be an allergic reaction. The NHS has advice on insect bites and stings.

If you have found a nest, see wasp nest removal, the DIY guide, or the cost.