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Home>Services>Public Health Services>>Bees and European Wasps
European wasps are similar in size to bees but have distinctive yellow and black bands on the abdomen and less hair. They should not be confused with the black and yellow hover flies which are smaller and have only one pair of wings.
Unlike bees, wasps are able to sting repeatedly and can cause allergies in some people.
Rounded nests 20cms in diameter or larger are usually found in the garden but can also be built in wall cavities, roof and sub-floor spaces. Nests are best detected by observing the flight path of the wasps.
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| Control | | One or two wasps in the house can be killed by household insecticide. Destruction of nests (only if entrance is easily accessible) can be undertaken by a licensed pest controller and/or the home owner by:
1. Locate the entrance to the nest.
2. At night, locate the entrance to the nest (a torch covered with red cellophane will diffuse the light source and will not encourage wasp activity).
3. Sprinkle insecticide dust over the entrance to the nest (the operator should wear loose fitting clothing and protective head gear to reduce the potential of being stung by any wasps).
4. The worker wasp will then carry the insecticide dust into the nest over the next two days.
5. Reassess the rest in 4-5 days time to ensure treatment has been effective.
6. Reapply with treatment as per Step 3 if first treatment has not been effective.
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