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Canberra Today 20°/24° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Fire up your eWasp app, the season is upon us

wasp and nest

COREENVIRO Solutions Senior Pest and Weed Officer Jim Bariesheff says that as Spring warms the Territory it is also bringing European wasps out of hibernation.

CoreEnviro Solutions are Transport Canberra and City Services wasp specialists.

“The first European wasp queen for the season was reported to the European Wasp Hotline in mid-August. The queen was inadvertently brought into the caller’s house inside some locally purchased firewood,” Jim said.

“European wasp queens will find suitable hibernation sites over the winter and will emerge when the weather gets warmer. Wasp sightings will become more frequent as the queens begin to take flight and find a suitable nesting site to start their colonies.

“While it was a quiet season last year, there were hot spots around Canberra such as Giralang, Franklin and Pialligo. At Giralang Pond alone there were 19 nests reported via the eWasp Mobile App, all of which have been destroyed.

“Residents need to be on the lookout for European wasps, as they can build large nests which are often hidden. As multiple wasp stings can cause a severe allergic reaction, we are advising the public to thoroughly inspect their properties before they start their spring gardening. If a European wasp queen makes her nest in the ground on your property, you will see a steady stream of wasps leaving and returning to the area.

“European wasps can also make nests in wall cavities and roof voids where they gain access through cracks, crevices and holes around widows and door frames. To minimise the risk of a nest being established in your home, all potential entry points should be sealed.

“European wasp queens can be treated using a spray can containing a registered insecticide. However, it is recommended that European wasp nests are treated by a qualified pest control firm to avoid being stung and to ensure that the nest has been properly controlled.

“Last season, a number of European wasp nests were reported via the new eWasp Mobile App, an easy to use GPS mapping tool, which made a huge difference in finding the location of European wasps nests, in particular on public land.

“All reports of nests on public land are visible on the map until they are destroyed. The mobile app has had a recent update on the Wasp and Bee Identification tool, making it easier to identify what wasp or bee you may have come across. The mobile app is available free at both Play and App stores.”

If you come across a European wasp queen or nest, please contact the free European Wasp Hotline on 6258 5551 or at ewasp.com.au. European wasp nests also can be reported directly via the eWasp mobile app.”

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