The honeybee and bumblebee are colony living insects, similar to wasps, with a black and yellow striped body and a sting. However, they should not be routinely treated as a pest because of the valuable work they do in pollinating flowers and crops and producing honey. Bees are generally hairier than wasps. Wasps have a much clearer pattern of yellow and black stripes and spots on their body and a more streamlined shape.

Discouraging Bees

Generally, odd bees will visit the garden in search of pollen to make honey. They tend not to be aggressive and will only sting if threatened. If a bee does approach you, remain still and the bee will smell that you are not a flower and move on.

Occasionally bees may swarm, or nest on your property. Again, it is likely the bees will only sting if they are disturbed or provoked and will usually move on within a short period.

Masonry bees are so called because they nest in holes in old walls. They are really several species of bees, which do not form swarms or hives. Soft walls are an alternative to the warm banks usually favoured by these bees. The best long-term answer is to repoint the wall, as these bees cannot cope with hard materials.


Leicester City Council does NOT provide any kind of treatment for bees