Summer is the best. We all know that!
Our good summer vibes stem from getting amongst some classic kiwi activities like BBQ’s, BYC (backyard cricket), beaching and going for a hΔ«koi up in the hills. But, all these amazing summer activities can be easily ruined by the tiny but menacing “spicy sky raisins”, introduced wasps.
In Aotearoa we have several native wasps. These ones are the goodies. We like them. – In fact, because these wasps have evolved here, they live harmoniously with nature and have never become a nuisance.
What we’re really talking about is the five species of wasps that were accidentally introduced and are classed as pests (German and common wasps, and three species of paper wasp).
π·: D Sikes | Creative Commons
π·: John Wattie | Creative Commons
π·: DOC
It’s an absolute shambles, putting all that hard work in behind the grill, to then serve up your meal to family and friends, garnished with a serving of winged, stinging (some of them), gate-crashing wasps who seem to help themselves to the feast too.
Or…
You’re out at the beach enjoying the sun and warm weather, when your chilled vibes are interrupted by a menacing buzz of a few spicy sky raisins, forcing you to shift from your prime spot and relocate to some other (inferior) spot to avoid the terror.
π·: Evans, Shellie
Or…
You’re going for a nice summer stroll in the hills, just as you start to think “This is amazing, could this get any better” you hear a low buzzing sound. A cold shiver runs down your spine and before you know it you’re pale-faced in full sprint mode running away from an angry mob of wasps intent on causing harm to you.
π·: Strother, John T
The truth is that apart from these critters being annoying and menacing, with the always looming threat of being stung, these introduced wasp species are a significant pests which harm our native birds and insects, and are a threat to our health and recreation.
Fun Fact: The venom from a wasp sting contains several toxins that can cause a hypersensitive or allergic reaction in some people.
Wasps are a major problem in some beech forests too, where they consume massive amounts of honeydew – a food source for native birds, bats, insects and lizards produced by a native scale insect.
π·: Edwards, Eric
They also eat huge numbers of native insects and have even been seen killing newly hatched birds. By eating so much, they upset the natural food chain of the forest.
Seasonally, in some beech forests there are an estimated 12 nests, or 10,000 worker wasps, per hectare. This makes the total combined body-weight of wasps in these areas higher than the weight of all native birds, stoats and rodents, put together.
Controlling wasps
The approach to wasp control depends on whether wasps are a nuisance over larger areas of land with several nests or are just a pain with one or two wasp nests in an urban area.
To control wasps over a large area with several nests use Vespex.
Vespex is a protein (meat-based) bait, containing the insecticide fipronil, which is deployed from a bait station. Wasps take the bait back to their nests to feed their young, wiping out the nest.
Because it’s protein based wasps find it delicious and itβs not at all attractive to bees.
We like bees. Wasps not so much.
Bait stations are placed high above the ground, so that other protein attracted insects, such as wΔtΔ can’t get to it and can’t get into it.
π·: Ruark, Joe
Vespex can be purchased from Merchento, but you need to become an approved user.
Find out more here.
If you have one or two wasp nests near you, but don’t know where they are, go searching on a sunny day, near dawn or dusk, the low light angles will highlight the flight path as wasps enter and leave the nest.
You can place a dessert spoonful of insecticide at the nest entrance after dark when the wasps have stopped flying.
π·: DOC
Worker wasps flying in and out will spread the powder into the nest and the colony usually dies within a day. If activity continues repeat the treatment until wasp activity ceases.
Hardware and garden stores supply a range of insecticides suitable for this method. These include Wasp Killer Dust and Permex Insect Dust, which have permethrin as the active ingredient, and Rentokil Wasp Killer.
Follow the safety instructions supplied with the insecticide.
Get control of the wasps in your area and keep the summer good vibes spicy sky raisin free.
Well, fueling the hatred and fear with articles like that. Bit more objectivity may be.
Wasp stings are literally life-threatening for some people.
Invasive insects are a problem Doris, they’re not stoking fears about sharks you old bat
The only thing that a wasp is useful for is being an arsehole, there is no other use for them!
I found this article very objective. I’m terrified of wasp attacks. I’ve received at least 10 stings at once on 2 occasions walking past wasp nests and now have got very good at spotting them with the low-flying angles of wasps coming and going. This time of year it’s good to avoid the beech forests and go to podocarp forests instead. One time I interrupted 2 nests being constructed in a toilet. I poured petrol on the nests and that was the end of that nest and its builders. Very mean but imagine not being able to use the toilet until spring when the queens abandon the nest. Got stung on the foot last week but luckily my thick sock protected me and my foot didn’t swell up. Needless to say I applied Stingoes and took an antihistamine. I’ve been stung in bed, in my living room (last year) when I stepped on a wasp unknowingly late in the evening and driving in the car as well. Wearing camo and avoiding eating fish for lunch also helps when in the bush.
Others years we’ve had nests & used brake clean from repco. Instant & quick.
Others years we’ve had nests & used brake clean from repco. Instant & quick.
Go to Garrards in Penrose they are specialised in pest products that you don’t normally find in a public supermarket.
Occasionally, I have some leftover fishing bait. The more stinky the better to attract wasps after protein. After a few days when the fish flesh seems to be disappearing, I dust the remainder with an insecticide powder. Wasps continue to devour until dem bones only are left.
Who do we contact if the nest is on DOC land adjacent to ours?
The bit in the post where you talk about putting a dessertspoon of insecticide outside the nest is immediately after talking about Vespex, this has led to some confusion
https://www.kiwicare.co.nz/product/no-wasps-nest-killer-aerosol/
NO Wasps Nest Killer Spray allows destruction of wasp nests from a safe distance.
Benefits:
Kills wasps on contact.
Eliminates wasp nests.
Ready to use aerosol spray for easy application.
Sprays up to 4 metres. Costs about $18. Worth every cent
I’ve used petrol twice to kill nests in my garden. Place around 500mls of petrol or white spirits in a plastic bottle with a decent neck. At night, insert the bottle into the nest entrance, allowing the petrol to drain into the next. The fumes will kill the wasps overnight. The next day exhume the nest. One time there were a few very unwell wasps still alive but not up to stinging me. Don’t light the petrol (duh).
Is there any funding lines to assist with the cost of Vespex… $66 registration fee, $210 for 1.5 Kgs of Vespex… so as we can get started and assist with the reduction of this pest..?? Mark Knight, Maitai Whare Iti, Nelson
Out of stock at the moment but this is a good option
https://www.hawkeye.kiwi/products/pest-control/wasp/hawkeye-low-wasp-bait/
They are a nightmare when hunting in the roar, all you can hear is the buzzing of the wasps. Be good to have them genetically bred to extinction in NZ
Yeah I got sixteen stings on the WC last year’s roar, the son laughed at me, thought I was soft – walking out made sure I was in front of my son, who then got a couple himself.