Benefits. Adult
Native wasps, including paper wasps, are considered beneficial because they assist in pollination by feeding on nectar, and they control pest populations, such as caterpillars, by feeding them to their larvae.
Wasps are probably best known for disrupting summer picnics, but they are actually very important in keeping the ecosystem balanced. Without wasps, the world could be overrun with spiders and insects.
Danger to humans
Paper wasps can deliver painful stings, but are not as aggressive as European Wasps. They normally only attack humans if their nest is disturbed.
Description. There are many spider wasps species found in Australian. The most common species encountered is the orange spider wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor). They have a black body with two orange abdominal bands, their wing colour is orange and they have an orange head, antenna and legs.
Other species of birds seem to enjoy eating wasps and purposely hunt them. These include blackbirds, starlings and magpies. Many species of bats are also insectivores and will create a colony on your property if there is a wasp nest present.
Above: the feral European Wasp, Vespula germanica, (Family Vespidae) was introduced into Tasmania in 1959 and this aggressive pest wasp has now unfortunately spread to Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
European wasps are native to Europe, Northern Africa and parts of Asia. But hibernating queens stowed unintentionally in ships or trucks can colonise new areas, and this is how they arrived in Australia. They were first discovered in Tasmania in 1959, and by the 1970s had reached mainland Australia.
First aid for wasp stings
Unlike a bee sting, a wasp sting will not remain in the skin. They can sting multiple times without dying. Paper wasps will swarm when their nest is under attack or threatened.
Social wasps – Australia's social wasps have a social order with a queen, worker wasps, and drones (males). The only fertile female is the queen wasp, and if she dies, that's the end of the colony.
To keep track of who's who in a complex pecking order, they have to recognize and remember many individual faces. Now, an experiment suggests the brains of these wasps process faces all at once—similar to how human facial recognition works.
The insects take particular interest in the sucralose, sucrose, glucose, and other forms of sweeteners found in popular, modern food items, such as high fructose corn syrup-based treats or exposed and decomposing meats. Foods left out attract other insects, which provide both forms of preferred sustenance.
Create a mixture that's 2 tablespoons of dish soap and water and pour it into a spray bottle, then spray it on the nests. "The portion will clog the wasps' pores, killing them almost instantly," Williams says.
Most species of wasp do not make honey. Adult wasps kill prey to feed their young, they don't actually eat this prey themselves. Instead they feed on sugary substances such as nectar, but this nectar is never converted into honey and it isn't stored. Wasps simply consume it on the go to give themselves energy.
There are thousands of species of native wasps in Australia – and the far south coast of NSW is home to many of them. Wasps play a critical role in the environment. The adults feed on nectar and therefore help in plant pollination.
Identification. European wasps are a stout wasp with a bright yellow and black banded abdomen, and a pair of black spots on each yellow band. They have two pairs of clear wings with the first pair larger. They have black antennae and fly with their legs held close to the body.
If a wasp lands on you, don't flap at it or try to brush it off – it will sting you. Just stay still and let it fly off in its own time. A wasp trapped in clothing is more difficult to deal with because any slight movement can press garments against it.
Summary. Unlike a bee, which can only sting once, the European wasp can sting repeatedly. Around one in 10 people who are stung two or more times become allergic, which means they will experience severe reactions to any subsequent stings.
Always remain still if a wasp approaches you. If you have to run away, do so in a straight line, without flailing your arms. Protect your head and face, as these areas are mostly likely to be targeted by the wasps.
Austroscolia soror (hairy flower wasp, blue flower wasp, black flower wasp, or blue hairy flower wasp), is a common insect found in Australia. It may grow to 3 cm long. The wings are a smoky black colour with an appealing blue sheen.
Wasps have four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. After mating, a new queen flies off to start a new colony, typically in a tree, a shrub, or under a building eave.
Wasp Phobia can have various reasons. The most prevalent reason is the experience of being stung by a bee, wasp or a stinging insect during their childhood. What can make those childhood experiences so traumatic that they're burdened with this phobia for their entire life?
Cuckoo wasps from a number of different species are found all over Australia, with Stilbum cyanurum (the one pictured above) being the largest and arguably the most beautiful.
How bad is a tarantula hawk sting? For humans and other vertebrates, the tarantula hawk has one of the most painful stings on the planet. American entomologist Justin Schmidt created the Pain Scale for Stinging Insects, with the help of variably willing or unwitting test subjects.
Asian giant hornets are not present in Australia. If you suspect you have found a Asian giant hornet, you must report it: Call the Exotic Plant Pest hotline on 1800 084 881, Submit an online form, OR.