Common Wasp

Vespula Vulgaris

This species has been nominated as among 100 of the "World's Worst" invaders.

Appearance Wasps have a smooth slender body and a narrow waist. They have the characteristic black and yellow patterning on the abdomen which differ with species. Lifecycle Each colony is established in the spring by a solitary queen. Workers (sterile females) emerge during early summer and take over the nest building. As the Queen continues to lay eggs, the colony grows to include as many as 10,000 individuals. The colony develops males towards the end of the summer to mate with the new Queens which mate in early Autumn then overwinter before starting a new colony.

Nest Nest sites are frequently built in abandoned rodent burrows or in a wall cavitiy or attic space. The nest is grey in colour and constructed using a mixture of chewed wood fibre and saliva. A wasp colony can contain as many as 10,000 individuals. Wasp nests are not reused from one year to the next. Feeding Habits Wasps are predators, feeding on various sources of sugar, insects and other arthropods. They are economic pests of primary industries such as beekeeping.

Wasps totally destroy or seriously affect 10% of beehives, which translates to a significant financial loss. Wasps can reduce honey production by reducing nectar and honeydew supplies and cause honeybees to stay in the hive to conserve energy and protect the hive from raiding wasps.

Wasp Stings

Wasps can sting repeatedly as they are able to pull out their stinger without sustaining any injury to themselves.