Disturbing footage of a swarm of pest wasps taking down a wētā is prompting a call for action to be taken to protect NZ's flora and fauna.
The Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust is sharing the clip, taken by Bay Bush Action Trust, to demonstrate how damaging the five different species of "social wasps" prevalent in Aotearoa are.
We have one of the highest densities of these wasps in the world, because they have no natural predators here and our winters are mild. As well as attacking insects like wētā, pest wasps have even been seen killing newborn baby birds.
They also cause problems for anyone trying to work in or enjoy our epic outdoor spaces, and if that wasn't bad enough, they monopolise honeydew in beech forests, which is a food source for native birds, bats, insects and lizards.
According to the MBNZT, they also prey on Monarch butterflies, which have seen a significant population decline.
They, along with the Department of Conservation, state that NZ's native wasps have never become a nuisance. But the German and common wasps, along with three species of paper wasps, were accidentally introduced in the 40s, and need to be controlled.
MBNZT's first step in reducing the harm of these invasive species is to ask as many Kiwis as possible to answer a short survey to help them understand what we know about pest wasps and how we're interacting with them.
In the meantime, the DOC website has information about how to identify different types of wasps, and how to destroy a single nest or use bait to control a larger area.
Let's not let these little buggers mess with NZ's beautiful biodiversity any longer!
