Most wasps have two transparent wings with a few veins and forewings that are larger than the hind wings. They have a waist in the middle of their body. Larvae have no legs and look like maggots. Some wasps have wingless females that resemble ants, but their antennae is not elbowed like ants.

From egg to larvae to pupa to adult, the wasp undergoes what is known as an abrupt metamorphosis which means that the larvae bear absolutely no resemblance to the final product. For example, the larvae have no evidence of wing buds. In the pupa stage, the tissues are completely rearranged and a perfect adult wasp emerges.

Most wasps are distributed throughout Australia but their habitats vary depending on their type. Mud-dauber and potter wasps gather mud from creek banks and dams to make their nests. Predatory wasps may burrow into the ground to make their nests or use an abandoned burrow in wood, or make a nest from mud. Paper wasps chew weathered wood and mix it with saliva to make a cell. Each cell is joined to another to make a comb which is attached to a surface like a rock or branch.

Food sources depend on the type of wasp. Some types feed on nectar and pollen, while parasitic and predatory wasps search for hosts or prey on tree trunks or on the ground among vegetation. Predatory wasps use their sting to paralyse their prey, usually other insects, and bring them back to the nest to feed the larvae. Parasitic wasps lay their eggs inside their prey, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the live host.

If the nest is large enough to house hundreds of wasps, and close enough to human habitation to be of concern, it is best to leave destroying it to the experts who will have the required protective gear.

The team at Bob Gunn Termite Solutions are trained, experienced and licensed to advise on the best method for dealing with wasps, and will offer a solution that suits each individual circumstance.

Removing food and shelter are top of the list for control mechanisms. Keeping the environment both inside and outside buildings clean and free of rubbish and food sources like household scraps, and making sure all stored food is inaccessible will remove the food source. Getting rid of old boxes, unused furniture pieces and anything else that will provide shelter is also important for control.

When there is an infestation, stronger measures are called for. Trapping and chemical control are just two of the weapons in the exterminator’s arsenal. The team at Bob Gunn Termite Solutions are trained, experienced and licensed to advise on the best method for eradicating rodents, and will offer a solution that suits each individual circumstance.