The community has been urged to keep alert for signs of the invasive pest European wasp as the weather warms up, particularly in Albany and Geraldton where there have been two recent detections.
The community has been urged to keep alert for signs of the invasive pest European wasp as the weather warms up, particularly in Albany and Geraldton where there have been two recent detections.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) officers recently discovered a European wasp nest in the Napier district, north of Albany, as part of an ongoing surveillance and eradication campaign.
DPIRD distributed 500 European wasp traps in the Albany area over the past two seasons, which led to the removal of 31 nests in 2023-24 and one nest in 2024-25.
The recent nest discovery near Millbrook Nature Reserve was detected as a result of a public report and has been removed, while the surveillance area across 62 square kilometres of the city of Albany has been extended.
Meanwhile, a single queen wasp was recently reported by a member of the public in the Geraldton suburb of Bluff Point.
European wasps have previously been detected in Geraldton in 1992-93, 2002-03, 2020 and 2024.
Biosecurity officers are deploying non-poisonous surveillance traps to monitor the area for the pest.
DPIRD's European wasp program has been working with local government and the community since 1977 to prevent the pest from becoming established in Western Australia, which has seen 1693 nests in that time.
A large surveillance network covers high risk areas in the regions, including Albany, Geraldton, Eucla and Bunbury, while more than 3000 traps are located across the Perth metropolitan area.
Residents, businesses and local governments can sign up to DPIRD's Adopt-a-trap initiative to help monitor for European wasps during the active season, from December to May.
DPIRD European wasp project lead Kris Armstrong said community support was integral to the success of the program, alongside DPIRD's efforts.
"European wasps are nasty pests that can impact agriculture production, the environment and social amenity," he said.
"They damage horticulture and viticulture crops, disrupt native flora and fauna, while their painful sting can harm humans, pets and livestock.
"Every year hibernating European wasp queens can hitchhike their way to Western Australia via freight transport, tourism and other means.
"Continued vigilance is essential to aid early detection and a biosecurity response and we greatly value the support of the community and local government."
European wasps, which can easily be confused with yellow paper wasps, are similar in size and shape to the common honey bee, their body is bright lemon-yellow in colour, with black stripes and yellow legs and black antennae.
They are unique in that they feed on proteins and sweet foods and are attracted to meat, fish, dead insects, pet food and sugary drinks.
Suspect European wasp sightings can be reported using DPIRD's MyPestGuide Reporter app
