canberrabirds

European wasps & birds

To: "Barbara Preston" <>, <>
Subject: European wasps & birds
From: "Peter Ormay" <>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:52:22 +1100
Hello All
European Wasps are the Cane Toads of the insect world.  They prey on insect larvae and have the potential to exterminate some insect species i e whose larvae are accessible to them like some butterfly and moth species.
 
They are attracted to meat, fish and sweets including soft drinks and are a nuisance at BBQs.  In parts of Melbourne where they are abundant people think twice about having a BBQ and are advised to use a straw to drink out of cans to avoid being stung in the mouth or throat.
 
In their native Europe their nests rarely get bigger than a grapefruit but in the ACT their nests can become more than a metre long. 
 
European Wasps are now widespread in the ACT and the Snowy Mountains.  Tracking them to their nest to destroy the nest is very difficult and time-consuming.  It would be much better if a bait were available that the wasps would carry back to the nest and destroy the colony.  If someone is aware of such a bait please let me know.  In the meantime I suggest that people encourage the authorities to have such a bait developed
 
Cheers
Peter
  
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