Wasp Nests Under Roof Tiles – A Common Problem for Nottingham Homes
Many people call about a nest under the tiles without being sure what is living there, and telling wasps from bees and other insects decides who you should ring.
Not everything that flies is a wasp
A cloud of insects around the eaves does not always mean wasps. Roofs and walls are also used by honeybees, bumblebees and, less often, other species. Each needs different handling, and calling the wrong person wastes a day when you would rather have the problem solved.
We treat wasps. For honeybees and bumblebees, the right contact is a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation, and we will say so if that seems likely when you describe what you see. The sections below help you decide, from a safe distance, which you are dealing with.
What a wasp looks like
Wasps have a slim, sharply defined waist between the thorax and abdomen, bright yellow and black bands, and a smooth, shiny body with almost no visible fur. They move fast and straight, and they are drawn to sweet drinks, meat and rubbish. The legs hang beneath them in flight and the wings fold flat when at rest.
Their nest is built of a grey or beige papery material, made from chewed wood fibre, and it looks like crumpled paper layered in sheets. You will rarely see it under tiles, because it is hidden, but you may see wasps carrying small pellets or pale fragments in, or find scraps of papery material near the entrance.
What bees look like
Honeybees are smaller and more golden-brown than wasps, with a fuzzy body and a duller, rounder shape. They tend to fly more slowly and in a less direct line, and they are interested in flowers rather than food scraps. Bumblebees are larger, round, noticeably furry, and often with white or buff tail tips.
Both nest differently. A honeybee colony may fill a roof or chimney cavity with wax comb, and you might notice a sweet smell or dripping near the gap. Bumblebee nests are usually small and often at ground level, though some use roof spaces. If the insects you see look hairy and round and wander between flowers, they are probably bees, and you should contact a local beekeeper or bee organisation. Please do not disturb them.
A short checklist from the ground
Use the checklist below while standing well back from the wall.
- Smooth, shiny, narrow-waisted and brightly banded: more likely a wasp.
- Furry, rounded and golden or brown: more likely a bee.
- Fast, direct flight to and from one gap: more likely a wasp nest.
- Heavy, slow flight among flowers and around the roof: more likely bees.
- Wasps around bins and drinks as well as the roof: probably wasps.
Photographs from a distance help both us and a beekeeper identify the insect. Take them with the zoom on your phone, not from a ladder. If you cannot tell, call and describe what you see. Households in Nottingham and elsewhere find that a clear description is usually enough for us to say whether it is a job we can take.
If you are not sure, and why it matters
Leave the entrance alone and keep people away. Do not block it, do not squirt anything and do not try to remove anything yourself. Wasps and bees both defend their nests, and getting close to find out is the one thing we would advise against.
If it turns out to be wasps, the technician can sort it. If you think it is bees, a local beekeeper or the relevant bee organisation will advise, and it is worth knowing that bees are valuable pollinators, so removal is often by relocation rather than destruction.
It is easy to assume it hardly matters which insect is living in your roof so long as someone removes it. In fact the answer changes everything about what happens next.
A wasp nest is something we treat. A honeybee colony is a different matter, because honeybees are valued pollinators and a beekeeper may be able to take the colony away alive. Bumblebees are generally left alone where they can be and are not usually a problem for long. We do not claim to treat hornets or other pests, so if you suspect something else, say so when you ring and we will tell you honestly whether it is something we can do.
The behaviour of the insects also differs. Wasps defend their nest vigorously when disturbed and can sting repeatedly. Bees are generally less aggressive, though a honeybee colony defending a large nest should still be left strictly alone. In both cases, standing close and watching is a mistake.
If wasps and bees are both present, as happens when people see a variety of insects around summer flowers, concentrate on the one using the roof. Only the insects that go in and out of the same gap, again and again, tell you where the nest is. The ones visiting plants in the garden are simply feeding.
Whatever you decide, avoid trying to treat the problem yourself. Products sold for the purpose are not designed for use at height, and a sting from a defensive nest is no joke for anyone with an allergy.
One last pointer: if you can, note the time of day you see the insects, because wasp traffic tends to be heaviest on warm, dry afternoons. A description such as busy at three o'clock, quiet at dusk, can help us picture what you are dealing with.
Booking a wasp treatment
If you are fairly sure you have wasps, the nest is treated for a fixed £95 and any additional nest on the same property costs £35 extra. There is no call-out charge, the price is confirmed on the phone first and nothing is done without your agreement. Technicians are trained and fully insured, we cover homes and businesses seven days a week, and same-day service is available.
Telephone 0116 214 9259 or use the booking form at /contact-us/. Mention any allergy to stings.
Wasps on your property in Nottingham?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.