There are 1000’s of different species of Wasps in Australia; the most commonly found species in SE Qld are the Paper
Wasps.
With several different varieties, Paper Wasps measure 15-19mm long and tend to be bright yellow and black or reddish
brown with yellow and black stripes.
Paper wasps make their nests by chewing together a mixture of weathered wood shavings and saliva, when it dries it
becomes stiff and papery. Their nests are shaped into a series of cells forming a comb, which are attached to a surface
by a stem. Their shape can look a bit like an upside down mushroom or a long vertical strip about 2 cells wide. They
can also cover their nest in a mud like papery shell.
Wasps principle food source is caterpillars, spiders and other inspects to nourish their young, they do have a love
of nectar and will forage for any food left outside.
Wasps prefer to nest outside in sheltered locations and can often be found close by in trees or shrubs, hiding in retaining
walls or under the eaves of your home or patio areas. We’ve also treated active wasp nests under outdoor dining tables
and sofas and chairs.
Although they are not naturally aggressive, if their nests are accidentally disturbed they will attack and have the
ability to sting multiple times. Wasps release a pheromone alerting other colonies of danger, which can result in
them swarming and attacking at the same time.
A wasps sting can be very painful and cause swelling, if you have an allergic reaction to wasps their sting can be
life threatening. A cold ice pack will relieve any pain but severe symptoms like excessive swelling, nausea and restricted
breathing should be treated seriously. If you have any concerns please contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13
11 26 or dial 000 for medical assistance.
Due to the pheromone Wasps release spraying them with an inspect repellent is not advised. Using a specially formulated
freeze technology CTS Termite and Pest Control technicians are expertly trained and offer a fast, safe solution to
instantly knockdown wasps ensuring no stinging pheromone is released, removing the risk of being stung.