European wasps & birds

["Peter Ormay" <>]

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