The European wasp is a pest Geelong could do without.Posted on November 27, 2016
As the new year approaches and the weather hopefully warms up, we will start to notice more and more wasps, and the worst of them being the nasty European wasp.
European wasps are roughly the same size as honeybees. They’re identified by their bright yellow and black body, with triangular markings on the abdomen. Unlike bees, the European wasp can sting repeatedly, and this sting causes intense pain and swelling.
European Wasps are more aggressive than bees and generally attack when their nests are disturbed, with their continual stinging a more severe anaphylaxis reaction may occur.
You can make your home less attractive to foraging wasps by removing food and water sources such as fallen fruit, pet food and covering compost bins.
European wasps leave the nest in search of food, and are attracted to meat, sweet food and sweet drinks, so it always pays not to drink directly from drink containers and use straws in cans or bottles over the warmer months.
When left untreated these creatures can grow large colonies numbering into the thousands, they can be found nesting underground, in compost heaps, in building wall or ceiling cavities, hollow logs or trees to name a few.
The nests when visible generally resemble papermache’.
Nests begin in spring with a single queen, who makes a nest with several eggs.
Once hatched the first lot of workers take over building the nest and raising the young whilst the queen lays many more eggs throughout summer.
Come autumn the queen dies, and prospective queens take flight to find a warm dry spot to hibernate over winter and the cycle begins again.
So if you see a wasp nest, don’t ignore it, report it to council, or if it’s on your own property, contact us.
Untreated wasp nests only compound the growing population spread of this horrible invader.
Keep an eye out for this wasp pest Geelong residents, we will no doubt be swatting these pesky critters at barbeques and picnics all over the region in the coming months, stay safe folks.