There are thousands of species of Vespoid (true) wasps, the actual number is not known. We do know that there is about 800 species of social wasps.

average common or German wasp nest produces between 11 000 and 13 000 workers and from 1000 to 2000 queens a season. Paper wasp nests, which are much smaller than common or German wasp nests, contain up to 200 wasps.

Wasps eat a wide range of invertebrates including spiders, caterpillars, ants, bees, and flies. It has also been suggested that wasps may prey on nestling birds. Wasps also collect honeydew. Honeydew is produced by a native scale insect. The insect inserts its mouth-parts into the trunk of the beech tree to siphon the sap. The excess sap, modified by the scale insect, forms a sugary droplet at the end of a waxy anal filament.

Chitin. Wings are platelike extensions of the integument (outer skeleton), strengthened by a framework of hollow chitinous tubes known as veins.

Virtually any contact between two wasps can be considered a form of communication. Visual and audible signs are used to attract the opposite sex for mating, and size and posture displays are used in courtship or aggression. Exchanges of food and chemical stimuli (pheromones) among the members of a colony are also very important in maintaining the social hierarchy and tasking of the colony members.

Queens wasps are bigger because they have to produce and store large quantities of eggs. Being bigger also means that they can store more fat, which is essential if they are to survive winter hibernation — by the time queens leave the colony, fat reserves account for nearly 40% o their total dried weight. The differences in size result primarily from variations in quantity and quality of food received during the larval stage — queens receive almost twice as much food as workers.

Wasps and bees both belong to the order "Hymenoptera" and have many features in common. The most obvious differences are:

Yes — the venom sac at the end of a wasp sting keeps pulsing for a short period after a wasp dies, so if you come in contact with the sting you may still be injected with venom.

Unprovoked wasp attacks are very rare, a wasp will normally only use its sting to defend itself or to subdue prey. Many wasps stings are the result of people squashing wasps, either deliberately or by accident. Wasps are attracted to food (especially fish sandwiches) and sweet drinks. People have been stung while they are eating because they have not seen the wasp that is also sharing the food.

Bright colours are a sign of danger. Many species that are venomous, like snakes, spiders and wasps, are brightly coloured, and this colouring warns potential predators that they are dangerous. A predator, that attacks a wasp and is stung will link pain associated with a sting with the yellow/ black colouration and avoid animals with this colouration in future. Different colours are produced by the differential absorption and reflection of light.

In social wasps, workers (sterile females) have an average lifespan of 12-22 days, drones (fertile males) have a slightly longer lifespan than workers, and queens (fertile females) have an average lifespan of 12 months. Check our The Life History of Social Wasps page for more details.

German and common queen wasps usually choose a warm spot, often in a bank with a sunny aspect, but also in attics, house roofs, eaves, or walls in which to build their nests. Paper wasp queens build nests that hang from small shrubs and trees, stalks of vegetation, fences and walls, and often under the eaves of houses.

Yes. In the countries where wasps originate, a wide range of natural predators have been recorded including invertebrates (dragonflies, robber flies, hornets, centipedes, and spiders), birds (at least 24 species are known to eat wasps, including blackbirds, magpies, starlings) and mammals. In Britain, badgers are the chief predator: they destroy entire colonies to obtain the brood-filled comb. Stoats, weasels and mice also disrupt colonies in the early stages.

For wasps on private land, you will need to contact a pest control company. If you chose to use Pestkil, a council contractor on (02) 6051 3555, the quoted price is $55. If bees or wasps are on council property we will organise to have them removed. Please call customer service staff on (02) 6022 9300 to advise where they are.

For effective wasp control, use aerosol sprays containing propoxur, pyrethrin or rotenone. These are available at garden centres. Always be cautious when treating wasp nests since the wasps will attempt to defend the nest. Treat the nest when it is dark outside as most worker wasps are present in the nest at that time.

If you encounter hornets, wasps or bees, do not swat at them. Retreat at least about 20m. If not possible, hide in vehicle or any enclosure or lie face down & cover head with arms. If you spot their nests, DO NOT disturb or approach the nests; call us at 67941401 (8:30 am ? 6:00 pm) or 64880252 (outside office hours), or inform the rangers at our parks. Wear long-sleeved light coloured clothing if possible when outdoors.

Yes. Epenephrine or adrenaline is usually effective at suppressing the allergic reaction immediately, although severe reactions may require a second dose. Later in the process, you may need an antihistamine like Benadryl (the over-the-counter preparation may not be strong enough). Your medical professional can help you in evaluating your need for this and obtaining it.

Pack away or cover food sources and move your outside garbage can or dust bin as far away from the kitchen as practical, and possibly set a WaspBane wasp trap beside the dust bin or garbage can to draw wasps away from the house. This is quite normal if the wasps are still in that part of their life cycle where they are hunting insects.

Presently there is no experience of using WaspBane against paper wasps but it is thought that WaspBane will not work against this type of wasp.