Be careful as European Wasps are buzzing around

Spring is here and the European Wasps (Hymenoptera Vespidae) will be starting to become more active as fertile queens emerge from hibernation to build new nests. As it’s a slow start because it’s the beginning of warmer weather.

With over 12,000 species in Australia, there are some wasps that are native and play an important part in pollination. The European wasp, an introduced species is renowned for travelling through and residing in the Murrindindi Shire.

If you see European Wasps, to treat the issue you need to track them back to their nest by placing food in a visible outdoor location, once they have tracked the food they are known to fly directly in a straight line back to their nest. This may prove difficult though and may take a few times as they can forage for food up to half a kilometre away from its nest.

A nest will most likely be found in a concealed site, holes in the ground, around base of trees and hedges and among retaining walls and rockeries. They are also attracted to rubbish heaps and grass clippings and uncovered compost.

European wasps make their nests from chewed wood pulp and saliva giving the nest walls a distinctive papery look.

Nests constructed of mud are not European wasp nests, they are known to resemble the shape of a football.

If you find the wasp nest, be cautious as the wasps can become aggressive if their nest is disturbed, for safe removal its best to contact the professionals. The nests are usually less…