The Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate is trialling a new European wasp trapping program (eWasp) across the ACT to help lower the number of eWasp queens before they can establish new nests.
In a statement, the Directorate said with the onset of warmer weather and more people exercising outdoors, the new Program would be important to help minimise the impact of increased wasp numbers over summer.
It said specialised eWasp queen bait stations had been placed around Canberra at Molonglo River, Giralang Pond, Kingston Foreshore, Weston Park, Franklin Pond and Yarralumla Creek.
The Directorate said CoreEnviro Solutions had been contracted to provide eWasp advice and insect identification services in the ACT and was distributing the new wasp traps.
Senior Pest and Weed Officer at CoreEnviro Solutions, Jim Bariesheff said the new trap was a chemical-free carbohydrate that lured eWasps to the station where the queens became trapped in the product and were removed from the environment.
“With spring upon us, eWasp queens are coming out of hibernation in search of carbohydrates and a suitable site to establish nests,” Mr Bariesheff said.
“One eWasp queen can produce thousands of workers and hundreds of next generation queens in a colony over several months,” he said.
“Their nests are often hidden with the most common nesting sites in wall cavities, holes in the ground, roof voids, retaining walls and in conifer trees.”
The Senior Pest and Weed Officer reminded the community that eWasp nests and bee swarms could be reported to the eWasp hotline on (02) 6258 5551.
“It is recommended that established nests are treated by a qualified pest controller to avoid any possible stinging incidents and to ensure the nest is properly controlled,” Mr Bariesheff said.
