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.
