Wasp Treatment
Wasps belong to the Order Hymenoptera. They are a diverse group of insects: in Australia alone, there are over 12,000 species, ranging from the tiny diapriid wasps, which are barely visible to the naked eye, to the spider wasps and cicada-killer wasps, capable of taking large prey. Most wasps have carnivorous larvae that feed on other insects and spiders. The adults provide food for them by capturing prey or by laying the egg on or near the food source, which might be an egg, larva or pupa of another insect.
The European wasp (Vespula germanica) is native to parts of Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is an introduced species and therefore does not have natural predators in Australia to keep numbers of these wasps low. In Europe, the cold winters ensure that only the Queen wasp can live, but the warmer climate of Australia means the entire nest can survive.
European wasps are pests because they are far more aggressive than native wasps. Lack of predators and warmer weather conditions mean that the European wasp is an increasing problem in Australia. This insect likes to live around humans because of the ready supply of food and drink, particularly of the sweet varieties.
The Best Way to Get Rid of Them
The best method of wasp control is to locate the nest, or nests, in the surrounding area and eradicate them using an insecticide registered for the purpose. It is recommended that treatment of the nest occurs early in the morning or at night when wasps are less active.
When dealing with European wasps it is important to wear protective clothing and a bee veil. Be aware that a torch/ head torch without a red filter may attract wasps. You can cover a torch’s light with red cellophane secured with a rubber band
Difference between European Wasps & Native Wasps |
| There are many harmless and beneficial native wasp species which are commonly mistaken for European wasps. In particular, the European wasp and the native yellow paper wasp are very similar in size. Native wasps, including paper wasps, are considered beneficial because they assist in pollination by feeding on nectar, and they control pest populations, such as caterpillars, by feeding them to their larvae. Paper wasps, however, should not be allowed to develop in or near the home because they may attack if they feel their nest is threatened. As the picture above shows, paper wasps are longer and thinner than European wasps and they have orange-brown antennae (European wasps have all black antennae). Paper wasps back legs dangle down during flight, and they are often seen hovering around bushes, over lawns and around water sources. | European wasps on the other hand have legs that are held close to their bodies during flight, and they fly very quickly and generally do not hover. The great majority of Australian wasp species don’t live in colonies, being solitary and nesting in the ground or in a crack or crevice, and they don’t attack humans. If the nest is safely out of reach it should be left alone. Paper wasp nests are usually above ground and are golf ball to side plate size while European wasp nests are rarely seen and can be the size of a basketball or larger. The diagram below shows the difference between European wasp nests and paper wasp nests. Click to enlarge. |
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