Wasp or Bee

Advertise with us
Shop deals on ebay
shop deals on amazon
Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum

Help Support Beekeeping & Apiculture Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Erichalfbee

Erichalfbee

Super Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
BeeKeeping Supporter
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
36,571
Reaction score
17,178
Location
Ceredigion
Hive Type
14x12
Number of Hives
6
Posted in another thread by Amari

Amari said:
That's interesting. I was called by a neighbour this morning: "Bees have moved in". In fact it was small wasps about 3/4 size of the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris. They were busily entering and leaving through a small hole in a garden room gable. The exiting bees were all carrying small loads of white material, some of which had caught on a cobweb. It was a white coarse crumbly powder. My neighbour had tasted it, thinking it might be honey!
We wondered if the wasps were stealing the under-roof insulation?

I cannot identify this presumably social wasp because it is definitely smaller than the 22mm quoted for the common wasp and other socials.

An identical wasp has a nest in the soil 2m from our patio table. They're very busy flying in and out. We can sit and eat lunch and not feel threatened - they do not invade our personal space in contrast to their vulgar cousins.

Can anyone help with identification. And could they be stealing my neighbour's insulation?
Click to expand...
 
Wasp sizes are extremely variable, I have some really tiny Vespula vulgaris workers. Sounds like social wasps to me. Esp excavating and being seen carrying the insulation away. A photo would help though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top