Honey Bee - DANGEROUS Bees are important to our environment, as they are the primary pollinators to our native species of flora. Although introduced to Australia essentially for honey production, Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) are also vitally important for the role they play in pollination of both commercial and domestic crops, and could hardly be considered as pests.

Honey Bee

Bees will sting, and more and more people seem to suffer adverse affects (apart from the obvious pain) as a result of the sting. Normally their benefits outweigh the downside, however few would welcome a swarm setting up home inside the walls or roof cavity of their home! Many people are allergic to bee stings, some severely, so we take every bee job seriously.

Native Bees - Harmless BEES Australia has over 1500 species of native bees. Ten of these are social insects (live in a hive community). Contrary to popular belief, only the ten species that develop hives are stingless. All others, although not aggressive, are capable of inflicting a painful sting, and not just once. They are native, protected and should be left to pollinate and carry out their tasks in nature. Click on this link for more information on our fascinating native bees

Flying Australian Native Bee

European Wasp - Dangerous
European Wasps (Vespula germanica) are social insects that live in very large colonies. Nests range in size from 15 centimetres up to 5 metres. There can be up to 4 million cells in the nest and over 100,000 workers. The colony consists of a queen, some males and sterile female workers. Nest sites vary, and can be underground, in hollow logs, roof voids and occasionally wall cavities. They are swift fliers and considered aggressive. They may sting several times when disturbed or agitated. The sting is extremely painful. The stinging wasp emits a scent chemical (pheromone) that alerts other European wasps to attack, and they can attack in numbers. They may forage for food up to half a kilometre away from its nest.

Appearance: Yellow bodies with several black arrow shaped bands. Paired dots on the sides of the bands. Yellow legs. They have two pairs of clear wings that fold longitudinally over their bodies. The queen and the males are about 20 mm long. Workers are between 12 to 15 mm long. Workers feed on sweet substances such as secretions from sucking insects, fermenting fruit and people's food and drinks. They feed their larvae in the nest with other insects, and spiders, which they catch and kill, or with bits of meat from dead animals or pet food bowls. They fly directly to their nest once they have collected food. Although this characteristic makes it easier to locate their nest, it is not advisable to stand in their flight path.
In the cooler, the colony lasts a year with only the queen surviving winter by hibernating. In our warmer climate, colonies may not die off over winter and may continue to extend over the next spring and summer and can result in super colonies. For some individuals, wasp, bee and ant stings can cause an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

European Wasp - Dangerous
Do not approach an active nest. Call a pest control operator to destroy nest.
For information on symptoms and first aid for insect and spider bites click here!

Australian Paper Wasp - Caution
Paper Wasps (Polistes humilis) Although there are may species of paper wasp, the Common Paper Wasp Polistes humilis is the variety most commonly encountered. This variety is native to Australia, however there are other introduced specie. Paper wasps are social insects, living in colonies of 12 to 20 individuals.

Contrary to popular belief Paper wasps are not aggressive unless their nest is threatened. Unlike European wasps they are not interested in human food and drink, and as a consequence, seldom are a nuisance. However if people are passing close by the nest (i.e. within 1-2 metres) there is a risk of being stung.

Nest: They build an inverted cone shaped nest made up of a series of hexagonal shaped cells. Usually the nest will not be any larger than 10 to 12 cm, although commonly, much smaller.

Appearance: They are tan in colour with several darker bands, and with some yellow on their heads. Size ranges from 10 to 15 mm long. They have tapered waists. They catch and chew up caterpillars to feed to their young however adults are essentially nectar feeders. Considered beneficial, as they are useful pollinators.
Contrary to popular belief Paper wasps are not aggressive unless their nest is threatened. Unlike European wasps they are not interested in human food and drink, and as a consequence they are seldom a nuisance. However if people are passing close by the nest (i.e. within 1-2 metres) there is a risk of being stung.
Wasps can usually be destroyed after dark when most of the foragers have returned to the nest. A quick spray with a commercial aerosol insect spray should suffice. The wasps will usually fly away and die however it is important not to stand directly under the nest being treated, as they will show no mercy. In some individuals, wasp, bee and ant stings can cause an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Paper Wasp

Mud Wasp - Caution Mud Wasps (Sphecidae) are solitary wasps. They build their nest in the form of a tube of mud, and these are sometimes confused with termite leads. The mud tube is then provided with an insects or spider which is stung, paralysing the prey rather than killing it. The female wasp then lays her eggs inside the paralysed prey. The hatching larvae consume the fresh prey whilst developing into adult wasps inside the mud nest. Differing from the social species such as European wasps and hornets, these wasps are generally not aggressive, but can administer a sting.

Mud Dauber Wasp - Caution

We do not recommend home treatments for removing larger paper wasp colonies, European Wasps or swarming honey bees. These should really be left to trained experts. RID Pest Control Services has many years experience in successfully dealing with all bee and wasp problems. We can usually offer a same day service.

Wasps

This material is subject to copyright. No reproduction, copying, altering or transmission of the above information is permitted without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.