Paper wasps in the garden are one of nature’s most useful pest controllers. They have a huge appetite for insects such as spiders and caterpillars, which means they have a strong role to play in balancing local insect populations and helping to control pests in your veggie garden.
There are two different types of Brisbane wasps – solitary wasps such as Mud Wasps that live by themselves, and communal wasps such as Paper Wasps and European Wasps that live in large colonies. Solitary wasps rarely cause problems around the home, but communal wasps can build massive dangerous nests with thousands of wasps living and flying around the nest.
Peter with a large paper wasp nest
Problems occur when paper wasps decide to take up residence under eaves, on windowsills, inside wall cavities or under tiles. Then, the wasps may end up inside the home and if disturbed can become very aggressive and will attack. Bees can only sting once, but wasps can sting repeatedly, with the wasp venom causing intense burning pain, redness, itching and swelling that can last for days. Around one in 10 people who are stung two or more times develop an allergy to wasp stings, which means that subsequent stings can trigger a severe or life threatening allergic reaction. Where there is a colony of wasps, the risk of multiple stings increases exponentially.
Multiple wasp stings from European Wasps (5 or more in children or 10 or more in adults) require urgent medical attention – call 000 in this situation. General first aid includes an ice pack and an antihistamine to reduce swelling, but if any other symptoms appear it is best to get medical advise as soon as possible.
While wasps are a natural part of the garden, wasps on or near your home are just not worth the risk. So if they are in or around your home, you need to get them professionally removed as every sting increases your personal allergy risk. Call us for safe paper wasp eradication and wasp nest removal in Brisbane.
