Social Insect Pests |
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Common Paperwasp |
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Polistes humilis synoecus
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Common Paperwasp (Polistes humilis synoecus)
? Agriculture Western Australia
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Description
The Common paperwasp is slightly longer than a honeybee (15 mm long) and the body is more slender with a distinctly narrow waist section. The abdomen also tapers more gradually to a point compared to a honeybee. The body of the common paperwasp has markings and bands of brown, black and yellow.
This wasp is native to the eastern States and was introduced accidentally into Western Australia about 1950. It is now well established in metropolitan Perth and areas of the Southwest. They are frequently mistaken for the European wasp.
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Common Paperwasp Nest(Polistes humilis synoecus)
? Agriculture Western Australia
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Life cycle
The paperwasp colony starts in spring or summer with a fertile female, who constructs the stalk and first few cells from chewed wood fibres. These fibres are scraped off weathered power poles, fence posts or dead trees, mixed with salivary secretions and moulded into shape. An egg is laid into each cell and the young larva, which hatches after a few days, is fed on nectar and chewed insect prey. When the larva is fully grown, it spins a cocoon within the cell. This gives the exposed end of the cell a whitish cap. After pupation the adult wasp emerges. These new wasps are worker females who take over nest construction, food gathering and the feeding of the developing brood. Later in the season, fertile females and drones are produced. After mating, these reproductives usually leave the nest, which then becomes abandoned at the start of winter. The fertilised females then hibernate over winter in preparation for starting new colonies next spring. Often old nests are re-activated in spring or new nests are constructed very close to the site of the old nest. Sometimes nests remain active over winter, especially if the weather remains mild. Adult paperwasps mainly feed on nectar from flowers while the larvae are fed caterpillars and other insect prey. They also need plenty of moisture and often can been seen alighting on the surface of swimming pools and ornamental ponds. |
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Paperwasps (Polistes spp.)
? Agriculture Western Australia
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Damage
Paperwasps possess stings and, if disturbed in any way, they will not hesitate to attack. The sting can be painful, even when inflicted through clothing, and each wasp can sting several times. Some people have an allergic reaction to the stings but no deaths have been attributed to paperwasps in Western Australia. In many ways paperwasps are beneficial, since they prey heavily on pest caterpillars to feed their young. While they are normally not a problem they aggressively defend their nest. In many instances people are stung when pruning, mowing or gardening, because they disturb unseen nests. They are an occupational hazard to lawn-mowing contractors and fruit-pickers in orchards. Paperwasps are most active during the summer and autumn months and they seem to be particularly aggressive during autumn. |
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Control
Paperwasps usually only attack people and animals when the colony is disturbed. If this is unlikely to occur, no action need be taken. Since paperwasps are predatory, catching caterpillars and other insect pests, they can be considered beneficial. However, if people have to pass close to the nest or are getting stung, the nest should be removed. The only certain method of control is to destroy the nest and all the wasps. This can be difficult, because of the efficient guard system of the wasps and sometimes because of the nest being inaccessible. The most suitable time to destroy the nest is after sundown but before it is too dark to see. At this time all the foraging wasps have returned to the nest, allowing the entire colony to be treated. It is safer to treat the nest when it is nearly dark, since wasps are loathe to fly and they need light to see. Do not use a torch, because this could attract the wasps. It is best to move slowly to the nest with a can of aerosol household insecticide and give the wasps an extended burst of spray. If there is a breeze, ensure you are up-wind, so that the wind takes the spray from you to the nest and the affected (and angry) wasps are blown away from you when they fall off the nest. Be prepared to vacate the area in a hurry after you have sprayed the nest. As a further precaution, protect yourself against stings by wearing long trousers, a thick pullover and spectacles during the operation. The next day look at the nest and, if it is totally deserted, remove it and put it in a sealed bag in the bin. You will notice that some of the cells in the nest are sealed with white caps. The occupants of these cells are nearly ready to emerge and, if the nest is left, they can emerge unaided and re-activate the nest. If wasps are still active, keep re-treating as above until the nest is inactive. Professional pest control operators will treat and remove nests for a fee, if you do not wish to treat problem nests yourself. |
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