Coast new target for wasp wipeout

The West Coast has joined the Wasp Wipeout conservation project to rid the region of a ‘‘ferocious’’ wasp population.

Wasp Wipeout is a community-led conservation project aimed at significantly reducing German and common wasp populations in the worst affected areas of New Zealand this summer.

It began as a pilot project in the Nelson region in 2016, supported by The Nelson Mail and Stuff as well as the Department of Conservation, local conservation groups, businesses, scientists and members of the community.

Last year it was expanded to include parts of Canterbury, the Coromandel and the Marlborough Sounds which have high infestations of wasps.

This year the West Coast has jumped on board. DOC senior biodiversity ranger Darrell Haworth said the region had a lot of problems with wasps.

‘‘From a recreational point of view one area that stands out where we have issues every year is Nelson Creek campground and walkway . . . They are really, really bad out there. It’s only a matter of time before someone has a serious allergic reaction,’’ he said.

The Maruia School at Springs Junction had to stop using a nearby track because of wasps infestation.

DOC has joined up with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand to target specific areas of the West Coast. Haworth also encouraged people to set up their own bait stations to target common and German wasps using Vespex which can be kept in the freezer for about nine years.

‘‘Go and see your neighbours. If you can get three or four of you, or the whole street, and put baits in everyone’s property you can target a wider area. Wasps can travel up to five kilometres and they take it back to the nest,’’ he said. Vespex did not attract bees or birds. He said DOC staff were at such a high risk of being stung they had to carry vials of adrenalin and needles.

‘‘There’s two of us here that are sitting on the most hits at once. I got hit in the legs and I had to brush them off and take off,’’ he said.

‘‘Get the hell out of there. Once they sting they send out a pheromone and the rest of them come. That’s the danger with these guys.’’

Haworth had been stung up to 10 times at once and the second time he was stung he had an allergic reaction resulting in his whole arm swelling up.

He said it was possible for wasps to kill livestock and bees, but the bigger risk was for native birds and bats. They also eat the insects needed for the endangered species’ survival.