Bees and Wasps - What can I expect to see in the spring?
Wasps
In April and early May, as the temperature rises, there will be a rise in insect activity.
Warm spells cause queen wasps to wake from hibernation. They are substantially larger in appearance than normal worker wasps but are quite slow and "dopey" at this time. At this stage they don't have a nest but will be searching for a place to start nest building. To prevent a nest from establishing it is advisable to destroy a queen wasp if seen.
A queen wasp may start a nest and then move location and start again several times before settling on a final location so small uninhabited nests can sometimes be found in eaves and crevices. Once the final location has been established it takes 6-8 weeks before the nest is fully functional. An established nest will have good access to the outside and a steady stream of wasps flying to and from it.
Bees
Bees are a beneficial insect, they pollinate crops and flowers and should be encouraged unless they cause a major problem.
There are a large number of bee species in the UK and the three most common are:
- honey bees
- masonry bees, and
- bumblebees.
Honey bees are a similar size to wasps but darker brown with a slightly furry appearance. In April and early May, they can be found resting in chimneys and under tiles around conservatory and extension roofs. Their behaviour is erratic and they may enter lots of different holes - wasps have a single entrance and exit to their nest. Unlike wasps honeybees are not aggressive.
Masonry bees are solitary insects. They tend to make small holes in soft mortar between bricks and lay an egg in each hole then leave the area. They prefer south facing walls that catch the sunshine. Large numbers of masonry bees may congregate in one area but they are not part of a group or colony, it is usually because they have all found a suitable area to rest and lay eggs.
Bumblebees are much larger and rounder than honey bees and, like masonry bees, are usually solitary insects. 
They are not aggressive but as they "bumble" around, some people find them alarming. They usually make a small burrow in soft ground and don't tend to cause a problem. Bumblebees are not aggressive and do not sting unless really provoked.
