european wasp removal call 0423688352 sydney

7/31/2019 European Wasp Removal Call 0423688352 Sydney

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European wasp

Surveillance for European wasps relies greatly on the public reporting

activity.

What to look for The wasps are brightly coloured yellowand black.

They look like a bee and also fly withtheir legs held up.

The antennae on their heads are entirelyblack.

Nests are usually underground, in ahollow tree or in roof or wall cavities.

Wasps are usually most noticeable nearthe small entrance of their nests.

The multiple honey-comb layers of thenests have an outer layer of paperymaterial.
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European wasps are unusual as they feedon meat products.

Identification/confirmation European wasp leaflets (Appendix 2-4) shouldbe sent to the person reporting the wasp asconfirmation of identification and as a form ofeducation.

Trapping The European wasp trap is a modifiedfruit fly trap. Cones in the entrances toprevent wasp escape.

Current bait is Sure-fire Yellow Jacket

Bait.

Traps are most effective wherealternative food sources are scarce.

Install traps in commercial and/orindustrial areas and freight end-points.

Traps should be installed on a 1 km gridpattern.

Place traps 1-2 metres above ground,

preferably in a tree.

Place trap in an inconspicuous positionto avoid vandalism.

Inspection and servicing period 1st December 30th June

Inspection and servicing frequency Every two weeks over the inspection andservicing period

Wasp discovered in trap; Contact Pest and Disease Information ServiceDepartment of Agriculture and Food

Western AustraliaSouth Perth WA 6151Tel 1800 084 881


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Introduction

European or German wasps, Vespula germanica, are native to Europeand have established in the USA, South Africa, New Zealand and easternAustralia (Appendix 1).

In Europe, these wasps have a defined annual cycle with nestsestablished in early summer by single fertilised queens. These foundingqueens have to survive winter, excavate a hole, collect wood fibre andconstruct a nest, lay eggs, gather food (primarily insects) and rear theinitial brood to adulthood. These first workers then take over theresponsibilities for nest construction and food collection freeing thequeen to concentrate on laying eggs. This initial phase is so difficult thatthe failure rate is greater than 99%. Nests reach a size of 2-3,000workers before the onset of winter triggers a release of drones and

queens. The nests die out during the severe winters. In Australia andNew Zealand, the milder winters can allow the nests to survive overwinter. These nests can be re-queened by multiple fertilised queens.Because these nests are already established they grow in size at a muchgreater rate. These over-wintered nests can attain sizes of 3-4 metresacross and contain hundreds of thousands or even millions of wasps.

Pest status

European wasps, Vespula germanica and Vespula vulgaris, are primarily

considered urban nuisances but they have human health, agricultural andenvironmental impacts.

They are attracted to meat and sweet drinks and can interfere with outdoor activitiessuch as BBQs. The cost of controlling European wasp nests in urban areas of theeastern States in 1992 was estimated at $600,000. Pest Control Operators (PCOs)charge between $50 and $350 per nest for removal. In Adelaide alone, more than8,000 wasp nests were destroyed during the 1997/98 season.

European wasps are a serious pest of the apiculture industry, attacking bees andkilling and robbing hives. The wasps are also a pest of the soft fruit industry and are

considered a serious pest of grapes in California. In Israel, they have even beenreported stripping flesh from cows teats.

Through sheer numbers, the predation of European wasps on native insects can bedeleterious but they can also affect native animals (including birds) throughcompetition for food. Tourism can even be affected. National parks in the USA andNew Zealand have been closed due to high European wasp activity.
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/Surveillance/European%20wasps.html#Appendix%201http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/Surveillance/European%20wasps.html#Appendix%201


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From a human health aspect, European wasps are capable of causing death (no

deaths have beenrecorded in Australia) either through allergic reaction to stings orvia massive attacks when nests are accidentally disturbed. The cost to thecommunity for treatment of victims can be significant.

Potential for introduction and distribution in Western AustraliaEuropean wasps are widely established in Victoria,New South Wales, Tasmaniaand South Australia. Every year nests of European wasps are established inWestern Australia as a result of fertile European wasp queens being transported intoW.A. in merchandise imported from the Eastern States.

The first nests were discovered in W.A. in 1977 and since that time AgricultureWestern Australia has run very effective publicity campaigns in an attempt to helpprevent wasps becoming established. To June 1998 a total of 334 wasp nests. Mostof these nests have been in the Perth metropolitan area but 22 have been found incountry districts (Albany 17, Kalgoorlie 3, Geraldton 1 and Eucla 1).

Potentially, European wasps could establish anywhere in W.A. south of the Tropicof Capricorn. Except for the extreme south-west (Albany Bunbury), nestestablishment is likely to be limited to urban areas where additional water suppliesare available.

Annual activity

Late Spring

(November December): Hibernating queens emerge and begin to establish nests.Queens may be seen on power poles and other sources of timber, scraping the

surface for wood fibres for nest construction.

Mid Summer - mid Autumn

(January to March): Nests are established and worker wasp numbers increaserapidly. Workers can be seen on poles scraping for wood fibre and may settle onmeat products and pet food.

Late Autumn - mid winter

(April July): Drones and queens are produced. Queens mate and then leave thenest to hibernate in cracks and crevices over winter.

Mid Winter - late Spring(August October): Queens in hibernation. Nests decline in activity and usuallydie.

Surveillance activities
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Public enquiriesSurveillance for European wasps relies almost entirely on the vigilance of the public.Although there are traps available, and in limited use, these are not considered effective.

What to look for

(Appendix 2 & 3)

European wasps are brightly coloured yellow and black there are noother colours.

They are squat in appearance, much like a bee, but slightly larger than abee.

They also fly like bees, with their legs held up close to their bodies. The antennae on their heads are entirely black.

The nests are concealed and are usually underground, in a hollow tree orin a roof or wall cavity in a house.

The multiple honey-comb layers of the nests are covered by an outerlayer of papery material. By February, the nests are the size of a

basketball or bigger. Wasps are usually noticeable near the nest entrance where streams of

wasps may be seen entering and leaving a small hole (usually the size ofa 50 cent piece) - especially on warm days.

European wasps differ to other wasps as they feed on meat products.

Yellow and black is the most common colour combination in the wasp world.There are many native wasps that have these colours. However, the combined

features of yellow and black colouring, bee-size and antennae which areentirely black is not common and, wasps reported with these characteristics,should be investigated further.


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Paper wasps

In the south-west of W.A. there are 2 species of paper wasp which are

commonly mistaken by the public as being European wasps. The yellow paperwasp,Polistes dominulus, (Appendix 3) is very similar to the European wasp incolour but has antennae that contain yellow or orange markings as well as

black. Their nests are also distinctive, being a single honeycomb-like layerwhich is usually horizontal. If honeycomb cells can be seen it is unlikely to bea European wasp nest which has an outer covering. The common paperwasp,Polistes humilis synoecus, has a nest similar to the yellow paper wasp buthas brown, yellow and black markings.

Identification/confirmations

There are two types of errors that can occur when identifying suspectwasps over the phone.

Type 1 errors are when you identify the wasp as being a non-pest whenit is actually a European wasp.


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Type 2 errors are when you identify the wasp as being European whenit is not.

The cost of a Type 1 error is large because the nest can continue tosurvive to maturity and release hundreds or even thousands of queens

possibly leading to the establishment of European wasps.

The cost of a Type 2 error is the time and vehicle expense associatedwith a negative result following a trip to the location to confirm theidentity of the wasp. Type 2 errors are far cheaper and so inspections andconfirmations are recommended where the wasp cannot be identifiedwith any certainty (eg the nest cannot be seen or the antennae or leg

positions not able to be observed by the caller).

With every wasp inquiry, a European wasp leaflet (Appendix 1-3)

should be sent to the person reporting the wasp to confirm theidentification and as a form of education.

Trapping

European wasp traps are based on the standard fruit fly trap but are modifiedvia the fitting of special cones in the entrances to prevent wasp escape.Various baits have been tried but the current one in use is Sure-fire YellowJacket Bait which is imported from the USA. See Amazon.com This bait ismeat based (liver) but contains a preservative to prevent putrefaction.


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Trap locationsThe traps only appear to be effective where alternative wasp foods are scarce. As Europeanwasps tend only to establish in association with human habitation and are primarilyintroduced with merchandise imported from the eastern States, the best places to install thetraps are in commercial and/or industrial areas and freight end-points (terminals, trucking

yards and ports). The traps should be installed on a grid pattern no more than 1 km apart.

Trap installationTraps should be installed at 1-2 metres above the ground and preferably in a tree asEuropean wasps often forage for insects in tree canopies. If available, choose a conifer inpreference to other species. The trap should be suspended by a single wire support and befree from contact with other branches so ant access is limited. The Sure-fire bait satchel iscut in half and one half is placed in each trap with the cut end opened out to allow theodours to freely circulate.

The trap should be placed in an inconspicuous position to avoid vandalism.

Clear notes and directions must be included on the work sheets to aid in itslocation.

Inspection and servicing times 1st December 30th JuneServicing consists of changing the bait lure every 2 weeks. The trap will only needreplacement if it is damaged.

Wasp discovered in trapCarefully remove the wasp/s and place them in a plastic vial. Using a pencil, make a labelwith the trap number and location details, date and your name. Place it in the vial with thespecimens.

Send to:

Pest and Disease Information ServiceDepartment of Agriculture and FoodWestern AustraliaSouth Perth WA 6151Tel 1800 084 881

Recording and reporting

Inspectors must carry run books on their trap inspections.


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Positive European wasp identificationAdvise Peter Davis, Social Insect Research Section at South Perth immediately. Submitspecimens via overnight express post to Peter Davis for confirmation.

Location of nest

Nests can be located by observing wasps and determining the direction they take just afterthey take off from the lamppost or food they were on. If this can be done from severaldifferent points the approximate location of the nest can be determined and then closerobservation can detect higher wasp densities leading to discovery of the nest entrance (intheory at least).

Small portions (~2-4cm square) of fresh fish can be nailed to posts where waspactivity is suspected as a means of detecting wasps where activity is low.

Destruction of nestsOnce nests have been located, advise Roberto. Nest destruction is a specialist
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european wasp removal call 0423688352 sydney

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