Bees or wasps? Or both?

[MikeGrahamT21]

Happy Bank Holiday Monday everyone!

 

so was just walking through the smaller bedroom which I’m in and out of regularly during the week as I work from home in there, and noticed a dreaded stain on the ceiling along a plasterboard joint 😭🙈

 

 

went up in the loft to have a look, of course this is right under the eaves, where else!? Now I think from memory of a time in my dads loft, this is the work of bees?

 

 

something has nibbled a couple of holes in the roof membrane which I will patch up, the insulation did have moisture on it under the holes and you can see the timber and insulation that I’ve removed is very wet, but it’s sticky and matted. Also found some grey coloured nests, only small, maybe 5cm diameter, and a few what look like outer casings whatever the young grow in.

 

 

can get a photo of those other bits if needs be, just having a breather for 5 mins

 

of course I will leave this all open now until it’s fully dried out before putting anything back, but the membrane is going to get some airtight tape on it, just sprayed some tescon sprimer to give maximum adhesion.

 

any insight greatly received!

 

thanks!

[MikeGrahamT21]

Some more photos of the bits I took out

 

 

[elite]

Hard to tell from the pics, but I would say bumblebees - certainly doesn't look like honey bees

 

Bumbles will only use a nest for one season, so this was probably last year and they shouldn't return

Pic 2 of the second post, looks a bit like the base for a destroyed wasps nest

 

 

[MikeGrahamT21]

I wonder if both have had a go then, that grey papery stuff was a complete, like giant acorn shaped thing, but it fell apart when i moved it. All from the same area.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll let it all dry out and ensure no more leaks before i put everything back in place insulation wise.

[scottishjohn]

the acorn thing would be an old wasp nest--some types do not make big nests -but lookd like they keep coming back 

they chew up wood or similar to make the nests 

[scottishjohn]

looking at it again

I would go back up there when its raining 

the stain on ceiling will most likely caused by water -- not bee/wasp  residue

Edited Tuesday at 15:52 by scottishjohn

[MikeGrahamT21]

On 12/05/2026 at 16:52, scottishjohn said:

looking at it again

I would go back up there when its raining 

the stain on ceiling will most likely caused by water -- not bee/wasp  residue

yeah I plan to, it’s still all cleared out at the moment, been some heavy downpours last couple of days. 
 

when I moved everything out there was a tiny spot of what felt like water but nothing more than that, I did repair the roof membrane whilst I was up so hopefully that will have cured it.

 

annoying as I only did that small section of roof 2 years ago and it’s a pig to get on to!