Hi Elizabeth & everyone
I will send Elizabeth separately detailed PDFs that Philip Spradbery sent to
me. If I sent them out to the list they that might clog some inboxes - but I
can send them to anyone else on request.
The wasps seek water to soften soil as they expand their underground nests,
and protein and sugar to feed the developing grubs/larvae. I understand
that they generally to not travel more than around 50 metres if they can
find what they need, and that they travel fairly directly. So see if you can
see the direction they head off with their load of water, sugar, meat or
whatever. Then seach the area carefully (work with neighbours) - nests are
most likely to be in the ground, with wasps going in and out at a fair rate.
Do not try to eradicate the nest yourself, but call the ACT government's
European Wasp Hotline on 6162 1914.
Following are some pics of wasp and nests.
It appears that at least one large nest in our neighbourhood has been
eradicated, but there are still some wasps around. I'm trying a poison
source based on the instructions that Julian sent around (with the liver
much closer to the permethrin-based 'ant and wasp dust' than shown in the
instructions). Around one in three or four wasps get themselves well covered
in the dust after cutting off their supply of lamb's fry. I cannot good a
good idea of where the wasps are heading because I have the bait on the
balcony outside my office so I can keep on an eye on it and the balcony is
enclosed with a heavy wisteria growth - the wasps spiral up in all
directions . . . But I will try again to get an idea of the direction they
head off in (and talk to more neighbours).
By the way, we have lots of beautiful blue banded bees around - they seem to
love the correa 'Dusky Bells' that's recently come into flower, as well as
lavender etc.
Cheers
Barbara Preston
'A European Wasp nest is often evident by a stream of wasps entering and
leaving a hole (European Wasp's do not hover but fly directly and swiftly
backwards and forwards to the nest.)'
_______________________
Barbara Preston Research
ABN 18 142 854 599
21 Boobialla Street
O'Connor ACT 2602
Phone: 61 2 6247 8919
Fax: 61 2 6247 8779
Mobile: 0439 47 8919
email:
_______________________
|
