Bees and wasps
What kind of insect it is, if the problem is with bees or wasps, before you ask for treatment of a wasps' nest, how to ask for it, after you've asked for pest control.
On this page:
- What kind of insect it is
- If it's a problem with bees
- If it's a problem with wasps
- Before you ask for treatment of a wasps' nest
- How much it costs
- How to ask for pest control
- After you've asked for it
What kind of insect it is
First, check if what you have are bees or wasps.
We can only help with wasps' nests. We do not provide pest control for bees.
If we come to your property and the insects are bees, you'll still be charged a call out fee and we will not do anything to the nest.
Wasps and honey bees are about the same size, but wasps have alternating black and bright yellow body stripes.
Honey bees are brown, with paler brown or dirty yellow bands on the body. Bumblebees are furry.
The Beedentify app can help you identify the insect or nest by selecting images that match what you see. You can also get advice about bees and wasp nests on the Scottish Beekeeping Association website.
If it's a problem with bees
You can get guidance about dealing with bee swarms on the Scottish Beekeepers Association website.
Honey bees
If they are honey bees, you may need to contact a local beekeeper for advice about the bee colony. They only deal with honey bees, not all bees.
However, removing the bee colony could be time-consuming, difficult and may not work, depending on where the bee colony is and how long it's been there.
You can contact one of the Kilbarchan and District Beekeepers for advice:
- Scott Murray on 01505 341856, 07592386464 or scottnitrox@hotmail.com
- Jacqueline Ferguson on 01560 485384, 07857700719 or jacqui.ferguson@btinternet.com
- Gregor Sinclair on 07522489723 or gregor.sinclair@hotmail.co.uk
- Chris Knight on 07876075664 or knightweb@gmail.com.
Bumble bees
You can find advice about bumble bee nests, including what to do if you find one, on the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website.
If the bees are dangerous
If the bees are causing a danger to you, children or livestock, then contact our Pest Control service or an independent pest control company.
If it's a problem with wasps
You should not attempt to remove a wasps' nest unless it poses a danger to children or pets. Wasps help in the garden by consuming large numbers of caterpillars and other plant pests. It may be safer to leave the nest alone.
If you must get rid of it, use the services of a qualified pest control specialist, or a wasp removal product you can buy from hardware stores or garden centres.
When you have located the wasps' nest, use:
- wasp powder if the nest is easily accessible
- a spray treatment if the nest is difficult to reach, such as in the eaves of a house, a hole in a wall or the part of a chimney visible above the roof.
Take these precautions when carrying out treatment:
- Wear protective clothing and face and head coverings.
- Make sure the clothing fits tightly around the ankles, wrists and neck and that no skin is exposed.
- Treat the wasps' nest after dark when the wasps are less active.
- Make sure you have a safe way out if you are treating the wasps in a confined space, for example, an attic.
- Always follow the manufacturers' instructions on the wasp treatment product.
Wasp nests should be treated with extreme caution as some people have severe allergic reactions to wasp stings. The nest may survive if the queen wasp is not killed.
If this does not solve the issue with the wasps' nest, you can ask us for pest control.
Before you ask for treatment of a wasps' nest
We can only treat wasp nests which are easily accessible by a pest control officer and where it is less than 20 feet above the ground.
If the nest is in a place that's not easy to reach and treat , like an overhang, extension or conservatory, you should contact a private contractor instead.
How much it costs
If you're a council tenant, there is no cost for pest control inspections or treatments.
For everyone else, there is a charge for visits to a property, even if we do not carry out any pest control treatments. You'll need to pay for this in advance.
For a domestic property, it costs:
- £69.55 full price
- £52.20 concession, if you or someone in your household gets benefits or tax credits, except for child benefit.
For a commercial or business property, it costs:
- £83.45 including VAT
- £62.60 excluding VAT
If you're a non-profit organisation, such as a school, GP surgery, charity shop or religious setting, you can get concessions on the rates for commercial properties. It costs:
- £69.55 including VAT
- £52.20 excluding VAT
How to ask for pest control
If you're a council tenant
If you're a council tenant, and the pest issue is in a communal area, email us at bsregservices@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Ask online
Other ways to ask
Phone 0300 300 0380
Email bsregservices@renfrewshire.gov.uk
After you've asked for pest control
If you've given us an email address, we'll email you with a case reference number.
We aim to respond to requests for treating wasps' nests within 2 working days.
If you've asked for a pest control treatment within the last week, but not yet had a visit from us, email us at bsregservices@renfrewshire.gov.uk for an update. Tell us your name, address, and the type of pests you've reported.
If you have received a visit from a pest control officer more than 2 or 3 weeks ago, but you still have problems with those pests, report it to us online again.
