The first question most people ask when they find a nest is how to get rid of it — but the more useful question first is what it actually is. Wasps and hornets (Vespidae) and bees (Apis) both carry a sting, but their behaviour and how aggressive they get are worlds apart: bees are pollinators, a worker dies after a single sting, and the general practice — ours included — is to relocate a bee colony rather than exterminate it. Wasps and hornets are strongly social and a disturbed nest can empty out and attack as a group, which is what genuinely calls for careful handling. This page covers identifying the species, how nests change through the season, and how we handle removal — if you're trying to work out who's responsible for removing one (FEHD versus arranging it yourself), see our wasp nest removal guide.One thing up front: nest removal carries real risk, and we don't recommend handling a nest yourself — a disturbed colony can attack as a group, and nests are usually up high, so the risk is out of proportion to the size. If you're stung multiple times, or develop breathing difficulty, facial swelling, dizziness or other signs of an allergic reaction, see a doctor immediately.
| Type | Appearance | Nest style | Aggression | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasps/hornets (Vespidae) | Slimmer body, yellow-black or brown-black banding, no obvious fuzz | Grey-brown paper nest, hexagonal cells inside, can range from fist-sized to basketball-sized | High — a disturbed colony attacks as a group and can sting repeatedly | Needs professional assessment and treatment, don't attempt removal yourself |
| Bees (Apis, e.g. the Asian honeybee common in Hong Kong) | Rounder body, golden-brown, visibly fuzzy | Usually nests in an enclosed cavity (a wall void, hollow tree), with neat hexagonal comb | Low — a worker dies after a single sting and rarely attacks unprovoked | Pollinators — general practice is to relocate rather than exterminate |
| Mud daubers (Sphecidae) | Slender body, dark with a slight metallic sheen | Small tube-shaped mud nest, usually a single tube, doesn't form a large colony | Low — solitary, doesn't attack as a group | Generally doesn't need treatment — not a pest problem |
This table describes general biological characteristics and doesn't replace an on-site ID — if you're not sure what species you're seeing, the safest move is a photo over WhatsApp first.
Send us a photo taken from a safe distance over WhatsApp, and we'll first confirm whether it's a wasp/hornet or a bee colony — the approach is completely different depending on which it is. Inspection is HK$350, fully credited when you book.
Professional removal is generally scheduled for after dusk, once the colony has returned to the nest, reducing the risk of stray wasps attacking from outside.
Wasps/hornets: our team treats the nest in full protective gear. Bees: we prioritise relocation over extermination wherever possible, to preserve this pollinator species.
We remove the remaining nest material and advise on whatever made the spot attractive for nesting, to reduce the odds of a new nest going up in the same place.
Wasp nest removal is quoted after we've seen the site — height and accessibility, nest size, and how sensitive the location is (a school or restaurant frontage, for example) all change the job too much for a headline "from" price to mean anything, the same logic as our flea treatment pricing. The inspection fee is the same as above, and a photo taken from a safe distance over WhatsApp is usually enough for us to give you a ballpark.
Not necessarily. A couple of stragglers might just be foraging nearby and don't necessarily mean there's a nest close by. If you're seeing a fixed entry point, an actual visible nest, or a cluster of wasps in the same spot for several days running, that's the sign worth acting on. If you're not sure, send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll help you work out whether it needs treating.
No, they're different cases entirely. Bees are pollinators, low-aggression, and a worker dies after a single sting — we generally prioritise relocation over extermination. Wasps and hornets are strongly social, and a disturbed nest attacks as a group, which is the case that genuinely needs professional treatment. See the comparison table above for the full picture.
Generally, nests are largest and most defensive in late summer through autumn (roughly August to October). The earlier you deal with one, the smaller it is, and the faster, safer and usually cheaper the removal.