Biosecurity officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) have spent the past nine months working on a campaign to eradicate the European wasp.
During that time the officers surveyed more than 98,000 hectares and deployed more than 3,000 traps, detecting and destroying 53 nests.
Program Manager for European Wasp at the DPIRD, John Van Schagen said the annual surveillance program, which had now ended, was an important part of the Department’s biosecurity activities to protect Western Australians and their animals from the pest.
“Although the number of nests detected was up from last year, it is still a relatively low total,” Mr Van Schagen said.
“Our biosecurity officers located more than 90 per cent of nests underground. However, four nests were also discovered in tree hollows.”
Mr Van Schagen said the Department’s Pest and Disease Information Service received more than 400 public enquiries relating to the European wasp which led to 12 positive nest detections.
“The DPIRD’s Adopt-a-trap Program received 174 new subscribers, which was a huge boost to European wasp surveillance and significantly enhanced the Department’s ability to effectively eliminate this pest,” he said.
“Additional resourcing, collaboration with Local Government and the community, along with strong community reporting, have combined to produce this great result.”
The European wasp has become established in the Eastern States and the DPIRD is making every effort to prevent that happening in Western Australia.
Reportings of sightings of the European wasp can be made to the Department at this PS News link.
