Sighting 4677721
European Wasp, German Yellowjacket Wasp at Aranda, ACT
Identification history
| Vespula germanica | 22 Jun 2025 | DiBickers | ||
| Unverified | 21 Jun 2025 | Jennybach |
Identify this sighting
Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.
User's notes
This hornet type insect has died in the cracks in a wooden slab seat placed on a little trail in woodland on low west flank of Black Mt.
1 comment
DiBickers
wrote:
22 Jun 2025
European wasps are aggressive hunters of insects and spiders, which they feed to their larvae. The adults themselves eat pollen, nectar, other carbohydrates and secretions produced by their young. This wasp out-competes native species for food resources as well as virtually depleting an area of its insect and spider fauna. Vespula germanica also has a large negative impact on human receation activities. Recent records for the wasp have appeared from New Chums Road and Nursery Swamp - we would like to know just how widespread it is in Namadgi - so please report any sightings from there.
The ACT Government treats European wasp nests on ACT Government land. If a wasp nest is on your property, it is your responsibility to have it removed by a qualified pest control operator. People should not attempt to treat the nest themselves as they risk being stung.
"A typical European wasp nest is started in the spring by a single queen emerging from hibernation. She raises the first worker wasps herself, which then help her raise more workers, and so the nest grows through the summer. Come the autumn most workers die out while the newly born queens search for a warm, dark place to hibernate." (Dr Reeson, Adelaide University)
For more information about European Wasps and to report a nest on ACT Government Land please visit:
https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/pets-and-wildlife/wildlife/pest-insects/wasps
The ACT Government treats European wasp nests on ACT Government land. If a wasp nest is on your property, it is your responsibility to have it removed by a qualified pest control operator. People should not attempt to treat the nest themselves as they risk being stung.
"A typical European wasp nest is started in the spring by a single queen emerging from hibernation. She raises the first worker wasps herself, which then help her raise more workers, and so the nest grows through the summer. Come the autumn most workers die out while the newly born queens search for a warm, dark place to hibernate." (Dr Reeson, Adelaide University)
For more information about European Wasps and to report a nest on ACT Government Land please visit:
https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/pets-and-wildlife/wildlife/pest-insects/wasps
Location information
- Coordinates 149.090653-35.270992
- Altitude 640.9m
- Maps Black Mountain
- Places Aranda, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 21 Jun 2025 12:12 PM Recorded on
- Jennybach Recorded by
-
Collections
Jennybach NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Social or paper-nest wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae & Vespinae) Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) Insects Vespula germanica
Additional information
- 12mm to 25mm Animal size
Species information
- Vespula germanica Scientific name
- European Wasp, German Yellowjacket Wasp Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Major weed or pest
- Up to 1526m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
