European wasps are native to Europe, Northern Africa and parts of Asia. But hibernating queens stowed unintentionally in ships or trucks can colonise new areas, and this is how they arrived in Australia. They were first discovered in Tasmania in 1959, and by the 1970s had reached mainland Australia.
The European wasp was first found in Australia in 1959 after being introduced from overseas. This non-native species has become established in Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. You do not need to report the European wasp as it is now established.
There are thousands of species of native wasps in Australia – and the far south coast of NSW is home to many of them. Wasps play a critical role in the environment. The adults feed on nectar and therefore help in plant pollination.
Native wasps, including paper wasps, are considered beneficial because they assist in pollination by feeding on nectar, and they control pest populations, such as caterpillars, by feeding them to their larvae.
Other species of birds seem to enjoy eating wasps and purposely hunt them. These include blackbirds, starlings and magpies. Many species of bats are also insectivores and will create a colony on your property if there is a wasp nest present.
Benefits. Adult paper wasps feed on nectar and collect caterpillars and other small insects to feed their brood. The Australian paper wasp is part of the Australian ecosystem and plays an important role in pollination services and population control.
A cheap and highly effective solution is a simple mixture of dish soap and water. Blend two tablespoons of dish soap into a water-filled spray bottle and shake. Spray the mixture onto nests or individual wasps: the soap will clog the bugs' pores and kill them immediately.
Benefits. Australian spider wasps are beneficial to the environment as they control spider and aphid populations and other pest insects. They are also pollinators of native plants.
Most species of wasp do not make honey. Adult wasps kill prey to feed their young, they don't actually eat this prey themselves. Instead they feed on sugary substances such as nectar, but this nectar is never converted into honey and it isn't stored. Wasps simply consume it on the go to give themselves energy.
Danger to humans
Paper wasps can deliver painful stings, but are not as aggressive as European Wasps. They normally only attack humans if their nest is disturbed.
if they are provoked or their nest is disturbed. times and, unlike bees, do not leave the sting behind. severe allergic reaction.
Wasps belong to a mixed group comprising more than 12,000 species in Australia, ranging from native to introduced species. The smallest is the minuscule diapriidae, which you can barely see, and the largest is the cicada-killer wasps and spider wasps, both capable of demolishing larger prey.
But hibernating queens stowed unintentionally in ships or trucks can colonise new areas, and this is how they arrived in Australia. They were first discovered in Tasmania in 1959, and by the 1970s had reached mainland Australia.
The most painful
Another common introduced stinger in Australia is the European wasp, Vespula germanica. This wasp's sting doesn't get stuck in our skin, so they can inflict multiple stings when annoyed or provoked.
Large wasp populations would threaten WA's outdoor lifestyle, tourism, human health and the well-being of our pets and livestock. Horticulture, viticulture and apiculture industries would also suffer if this pest became established in WA.
Austroscolia soror (hairy flower wasp, blue flower wasp, black flower wasp, or blue hairy flower wasp), is a common insect found in Australia. It may grow to 3 cm long. The wings are a smoky black colour with an appealing blue sheen.
Identification. European wasps are a stout wasp with a bright yellow and black banded abdomen, and a pair of black spots on each yellow band. They have two pairs of clear wings with the first pair larger. They have black antennae and fly with their legs held close to the body.
The major difference between wasp and hornets is size and colour. Wasps (left) are about one- third inch (one centimeter) to one inch (two and one-half centimeters) long. Hornets (right) are larger. Wasps have black and yellow rings, while hornets have black and white rings.
Bees usually have thick, branched hairs which attract large amounts of pollen to their bodies. Wasps are usually hairless or have simple, non-branched hairs. Bees have modified hair structures (scopa) to carry pollen loads back to the nest. Wasps don't carry pollen.
Spider wasps are often seen digging in soft sandy soil, dragging huntsman spiders along. Some species are known to bite off the legs of large hairy spiders, trimming them to make them easier to handle.
The insect is a Cryptocheilus bicolor, a strikingly coloured spider wasp native to Australia, according to Dr Dieter Hochuli, Associate Professor at The University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Science. It's a natural predator of the huntsman, paralysing them by stinging their undersides.
There are several essential oils you can use to safely and effectively repel wasps. Peppermint oil on its own has been shown to act as a natural repellent for wasps and bees, or you can use a combination of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils as a natural pest control method.
They normally get angry when they feel threatened. It could be your constant waving of arms when you try to get rid of them. These actions make them feel threatened hence making them angry. Once wasps get angry, their defence mechanism releases pheromones that signal other wasps in the colony.
Wasps have a strong sense of smell and dislike certain plants like peppermint, spearmint, basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, thyme, citronella, bay leaves, and lemongrass. They are also repelled by vinegar, cinnamon, coffee grounds, and sliced cucumber.