Tackling European wasps together
Are you concerned about European wasps? You are not the only one!
Capacity building - LEP23-014_LLC12_7
The issue
European wasps are invading our backyards, impacting our lifestyle and can cause hospitalisation. They are destroying honey bee hives and impacting our native pollinators. Control options are available, including poisoning nests, poison baits and pheromone lure traps. Like all pest control programs however, European wasp control is more effective when conducted at a landscape scale. Community control programs have proved successful at reducing European wasps across a region but require collaboration and coordination.
The solution
The Braidwood European Wasp Offensive has been running for a number of years and recorded a dramatic reduction in wasps. This community driven program has proved so successful that Landcare, Bendigo Bank and QPRC have joined forces to expand the program. To kick off the program we sent out a survey. We wanted to hear from the community about what they knew about wasps, were they concerned about them and what people were currently doing to control them. By understanding what was currently happening in our community we could focus support to target European wasp control where it is most needed.
The impact
The Landcare program supported a coordinate wasp control across the region and supplied subsidised wasp lure traps. Lure traps contain pheromones that are specific for European wasps, thereby minimising any effect on native invertebrates and reducing the need to handle poison. The program went to communities that were found to be being impacted by European wasps and keen to expand on their current control. Reports suggest that control is working and through targeted seasonal control the program hopes to continue to have an impact on European wasps into the future.