Beware of the yellow wasps!
Invasive wasps causing trouble in the Cape Town area for the past years have now swarmed into Paarl and Wellington.
Local residents are taking to social media to ask for advice about wasps on their property and how to remove them.
Two invasive wasp species are seen around Drakenstein. The more common one observed is the European paper wasp, while the less common one is the German wasp. The paper wasp is longer than a honey bee, with a narrow body, yellow and black camouflage pattern and yellow /orange antennae. It is usually seen hovering in places that receive abundant sunlight, for example above lawns. It is a slow flier because its legs hang down in flight.
Residents have also spotted them building their nests mostly in washing line poles, under roof eaves and mail boxes. The nest is a papery, honeycomb-like, single-layered structure with visible cells.
They attack if threatened, but luckily they do not swarm or chase a target so it is best to run away when a nest is disturbed.
Dr Ruan Veldtman, senior scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), previously said that the large influx of these wasps into the Cape Peninsula and Boland has reached pandemic status. He said the wasps presumably arrived in Cape Town a few years before 2008 when they were detected, having nested on ship containers.
The large numbers that are now found in gardens make the likelihood of people being stung by them a real danger. Many have been hospitalised after stings, due to allergic reactions.
Veldtman said SANBI had an eradication trial project in place to eliminate these wasps by a spraying programme which was undertaken in Franschhoek and Grabouw. Between November 2016 and February 2017, 10 600 homes were inspected by contractors who destroyed 23 000 nests in total.
At present it is the peak season for these wasps, although nests were already built in September but went unnoticed.
Drakenstein Municipality can assist residents telephonically with any enquiries related to wasps and give them advice on how to deal with them. Our Nature Conservation section can be contacted on 021 807 6231.
Here are some guidelines:
How to keep out wasps:
. To prevent wasps from entering your house, keep the doors and windows shut. Ensure fly-screens are fitted and secure.. Seal gaps around the house to reduce possible entrance sites for European Wasps and other home pests from entering the home.. Regularly monitor where potential nesting may occur. Nests detected early on may just have between one and three wasps which can be easily killed with an insecticide spray can.. Keep pools covered when not in use to prevent wasps from falling in while trying to get a drink. They become a stinging hazard to swimmers.. Avoid eating outdoors when there are signs of German Wasps.. Do not leave food or drinks (especially soft drink cans) unattended or uncovered. Wasps have been known to enter an open drink can and may then be swallowed accidentally .. Do not leave pet food outside for extended periods of time. Feed pets indoors if possible. . Keep compost and garbage bin lids firmly secured.. Pick up any fallen fruit from fruit trees and dispose of in a secure and lidded compost or rubbish bin.. Inform neighbours to be on the lookout for European Wasps to prevent other nearby nest colonies from returning.
Consider companion planting of wasp-deterring plants such as:
. Eucalyptus (shrub forms). Lemongrass. Marigolds. Mint. Pennyroyal . Thyme. Wormwood (Artemisia sp.)
