The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has kicked off its annual campaign to detect, locate and destroy European wasps that invade Western Australia.
The 2018/19 summer surveillance season commenced on December 1, with a call for Australiand residents to look out for the destructive pest wasps and help locate their nests.
Department Pest and Disease Information Service supervisor Catherine Webb said the European wasp was a declared pest in WA due to its potential to flourish and impact on horticultural industries, outdoor lifestyles and the health of people, pets and livestock.
“Summer presents the best opportunity to detect the pests as the wasps leave the nest to scavenge food, driving them into our yards, recreational areas and traps,” she said.
“The European wasp has distinct behaviours among wasp species and other insects in WA, which make it easy to identify.
“Wasps that feed on meat, fruit, human food and drinks, pet food and insects, or wasps with their legs raised during flight, are behaviours unique to European wasps and should be reported to the department.
“Most European wasp nests are built hidden underground, so wasps that fly in and out of a single hole in the ground should also be treated as suspicious.”
The department commenced its annual campaign with surveillance and trapping in the highest risk areas, serving as an early warning system to detect wasps, which are established interstate and overseas.
Reports can be made via mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au.
