Vespula thieves get the death penalty this summer

Every summer wasps are an unwelcome guest who make picnics at the beach or native bush walks unpleasant and sometimes dangerous for visitors.  These vespula thieves steal food resources from our native birds and insects and in some areas, reduce the honeydew crop by up to 90%.  Wasps eat a wide range of invertebrates including spiders, caterpillars, ants, bees and flies, and may predate some native invertebrates to the point of population collapse.  In New Zealand beech forests, the total biomass of wasps is thought to be more than that of native birds, with an average of 12 nests or 10,000 wasps per hectare. 
At Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary, wasps gather near the water ponds and feed on honeydew collected from beech trees. In the past, each nest has been dealt with on discovery but this year we are aiming to remove over 90% of all wasps using Vespex.  This highly effective wasp bait targets common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and German wasp (V. germanica) when they are feeding on protein.  The bait is collected by individual wasps and taken back to their nests where the slow acting insecticide is shared throughout the colony.  It does not target bees and has a low toxicity to mammals and birds, in fact the active ingredient is commonly found in flea treatments.

ABOVE: Wasps feeding on Vespex bait
BELOW: Bait being placed in a yellow bait station
​Image source: Vespex website

​We know that Vespex will be extremely effective on the Sanctuary but we want to aim bigger… we want to get rid of wasps from the whole of Picton and Waikawa.  By targeting a larger area, it will reduce reinvasion of wasps onto the Sanctuary but it will also benefit the wildlife around Picton and Waikawa, and it will make fish and chips on the foreshore much more enjoyable.
To achieve large-scale wasp control, we need help.  Once testing shows the right level of wasp numbers, 520 bait stations will need to be placed across Picton and Waikawa including The Wedge, Victoria Domain, Essons Valley and urban areas.  We are looking for people who are keen to help with this process but we are also looking for people who would like to host a bait station in their own backyard.  The map below gives an indication of where bait stations are likely to be placed, if you would like to help please give us a call.
The total cost of this control programme will be around $3,500 and we believe that this is an achievable figure.  We have already received a donation from The Veronica Trust but every little bit helps.  If you would like to donate funds to help us achieve a wasp free Picton/Waikawa then please contact us.
For more information about Vespex visit their website.

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