Summer packs a waspish sting

28 January 2016

Wasps are thriving in Taranaki this summer and the Taranaki Regional Council’s phones have been running hot with calls for advice on controlling them.

As well as inflicting nasty stings on people, wasps prey on native insects and compete with native birds for honeydew as a food source.

Control is the responsibility of land owners or occupiers and the Council can provide advice and information. Options include:

Poisoning: Effective insecticide powder is available from hardware stores, farm outlets and the like. Look for the active ingredients permethrin and diatomaceous earth. Strictly follow the instructions on the label.
Engaging a contractor: Look under ‘pest control’ in the Yellow Pages.
To find a nest, watch the flightpaths of wasps at dawn and dusk. They seldom venture further than 200 metres from their nests and generally fly in a straight line.

If the nest can’t be found, a simple wasp trap can be fashioned from a plastic soft drink bottle and using sugar, water and detergent. See the instruction sheet at bit.ly/TRCwasps for instructions and a diagram

“New Zealand has some of the highest densities of wasps in the world,” says the Council’s Environment Services Manager, Steve Ellis. “Their natural enemies are not present here, winters are mild and there is an abundance of food. And they’re certainly doing very well in Taranaki this summer.

He says wasps are not among the 23 declared pests in Taranaki’s current Pest Animal Strategy, so control is voluntary and up to individual land owners or occupiers.

Wasps are particularly active in summer and autumn. Queens hibernate in winter and nests usually die.

Wasp stings should be treated immediately with a cold compress and/or antihistamines. Vinegar can also be soothing when applied to the affected area.

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