Queen wasps on the move

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 506, 5 October 1993, Page 1

Queen wasps on the move

Queen wasps are coming out of hibernation and are now looking for nesting sites, the Department of Conservation warns. Compared to the winters of 1 99 1 /92 this winter has been relatively mild which means that a greater number of queen wasps could have survived the winter. Generally only 5 per cent of queens survive the cold to successfully ' raise a nest in spring. Queen wasps can be identified by their reasonably large size. When a nest site has been found the queen will lay between 20 to 40 eggs, her first 'crop' of workers. Once these workers hatch, the queen no longer leaves the nest and is left to concentrate on laying eggs. It' s estimated that one queen is responsible for as many as 2,000 wasps. "Killing a queen wasp now can make a significant difference to the autumn wasp population," said DoC spokesperson Cam Speedy. Locally, the Department of Conservation receive a number of enquiries about wasp nests. When nests are on private property the Department recommend contacting a professional pest control company. If a nest is within 200 metres of land managed by the Department it will arrange for the nest to be destroyed. Anyone going into the bush during the summer months should be aware of the possibility of finding wasp nests and report any found to their nearest DoC office. "We advise people going into the bush to carry an antihistamine in their first aid kit. Even non-allergic people can react to a wasp sting," Mr Speedy said.