Bee’s and Wasps
There may be hundreds of species of wasps, hornets and bees found around the world, however only a few of these are seen as real pests here in New Zealand. Bees, hornets, and wasps are for the most part a greatly beneficial group of insects, being the major pollinators of flowering plants, helping to reduce the numbers of many insect pest species, the Honeybee is also a valuable part of our ecosystem.
Understanding their habits, lifecycle and appearance can help to identify the best form of control for your home or business.
Honey bee
Honeybees are the species kept by Beekeepers.
- They live in hollow trees or in chimneys, wall cavities or roof spaces.
- They are similar in size to wasps but are furrier and mostly black in colour.
- Honeybees convert nectar into honey and beeswax.
- A honeybee swarm will arrive in flight and cluster on a tree branch.
- A colony size can often be greater than 30,000 individual honeybees.
- Population under threat from varroa mite.
If you have a problem with honeybees, contact a local Beekeeper or Environmental Health Department as they will be able to arrange for the swarm to be relocated.
NATIVE bee
- Smaller than honeybees (5–12 millimetres long).
- Hairy back legs which often carry pollen.
- All are black except for the South Island species Leioproctus fulvescens, which is covered with dense orange–yellow hair.
Each species prefers a specific type of soil. For example, Leioproctus fulvescens needs fine-grained soil, while Leioproctus metallicus nests in coastal sand. This also means that for most of the year the presence of these native bee breeding grounds are not very obvious at all.
Honey bee
Honeybees are the species kept by Beekeepers.
- •They live in hollow trees or in chimneys, wall cavities or roof spaces.
- They are similar in size to wasps but are furrier and mostly black in colour.
- Honeybees convert nectar into honey and beeswax.
- A honeybee swarm will arrive in flight and cluster on a tree branch.
- A colony size can often be greater than 30,000 individual honeybees.
- Population under threat from varroa mite.
If you have a problem with honeybees, contact a local Beekeeper or Environmental Health Department as they will be able to arrange for the swarm to be relocated.
NATIVE bee
- Smaller than honeybees (5–12 millimetres long).
- Hairy back legs which often carry pollen.
- All are black except for the South Island species Leioproctus fulvescens, which is covered with dense orange–yellow hair.
Each species prefers a specific type of soil. For example, Leioproctus fulvescens needs fine-grained soil, while Leioproctus metallicus nests in coastal sand. This also means that for most of the year the presence of these native bee breeding grounds are not very obvious at all.
NEW ZEALAND HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST DENSITIES OF GERMAN AND COMMON WASPS IN THE WORLD
New Zealand has several kinds of native wasps which have evolved here and have never become a nuisance. But five social species of wasps have been accidentally introduced since the 1940s and are classed as pests (German and common wasps, and three species of paper wasp).
The venom from a wasp sting contains several toxins that can cause a hypersensitive or allergic reaction in some people.
Introduced wasps are a significant pest which harm our native birds and insects and are a threat to human health and recreation.
Wasps are a major problem in some beech forests where they consume massive amounts of honeydew. Honeydew and is an important food for native birds, bats, insects and lizards.
Wasps also eat huge numbers of native insects and have even been seen killing newly hatched birds. By eating so much, they upset the natural food chain of the forest.
Seasonally in some beech forests there are an estimated 12 nests, or 10,000 worker wasps, per hectare. This makes the total combined body-weight of wasps in these areas higher than the weight of all native birds, stoats and rodents, put together.
German & common wasps
German & common wasps
New Zealand has some of the highest densities of German and common wasps in the world, this is because they have no natural predators here, our winters are mild and there is plenty of food for them.
Introduced German and common social wasps are remarkably similar in appearance, and both have the characteristic black and yellow colouration.
Social wasps live as colonies in nests of honeycomb-like cells. They form complex social groups and all members of a colony help raise the young.
Species live in large colonies, about the size of a soccer ball. These colonies can become huge if they manage to survive over winter.
German wasp nests are grey. Common wasp nests are brown.
Paper wasp
Asian & Australian
Paper wasp
Asian & Australian
Although not as much of a problem as German and common wasps, paper wasps have also been introduced to New Zealand.
The Asian paper wasp has been found in the North Island and top of the South Island.
The Australian paper wasp remains confined to the north of the North Island.
Both paper wasps build small nests out of regurgitated woody material, about the size of a pear.
New Zealand has some of the highest densities of German and common wasps in the world, this is because they have no natural predators here, our winters are mild and there is plenty of food for them.
Introduced German and common social wasps are remarkably similar in appearance, and both have the characteristic black and yellow colouration.
Social wasps live as colonies in nests of honeycomb-like cells. They form complex social groups and all members of a colony help raise the young.
Species live in large colonies, about the size of a soccer ball. These colonies can become huge if they manage to survive over winter.
German wasp nests are grey. Common wasp nests are brown.
Although not as much of a problem as German and common wasps, paper wasps have also been introduced to New Zealand.
The Asian paper wasp has been found in the North Island and top of the South Island.
The Australian paper wasp remains confined to the north of the North Island.
Both paper wasps build small nests out of regurgitated woody material, about the size of a pear.
What to do if wasps attack you
Seek protective shelter immediately if there is a swarm. If you have severe allergic reaction from a sting (e.g., excessive swelling, difficulty breathing), seek immediate medical attention.
What we do
Wasp extermination and nest control
If we can clearly see the entrance to the nest, we use it to inject a powder or residual spray directly into the nest. If the entrance is not visible, we apply a residual spray to areas where wasps land before entering the nest. As far as wasp extermination goes, both methods are very effective at getting product into the nest to exterminate it.
Our focus is on your safety when exterminating the nest. We approach the nest in a way that minimizes disturbing it. This ensures the wasps become confused rather than aggressive and dangerous.
The nest is usually dead within a couple of hours.
If we are unable to locate the nest we will place Wasp bait traps, which will attract the wasps and trap them inside where they will die.
