Which wasps are we dealing with?
Paper waspPolistes spp.
Slender, brown or yellow-banded. Builds open, honeycomb-like nests hanging from a stalk.
European waspVespula germanica
Bright yellow and black, shiny. Hidden nests in walls or the ground, very aggressive near the nest.
Signs to look for
- Wasps flying repeatedly to the same spot under eaves or in a shrub
- A grey papery nest on a stalk
Wasps around Sydney
New estates in Gregory Hills, Oran Park and Edmondson Park have lots of fresh eaves and pergolas that paper wasps move into each spring.
Stings and allergic reactions
If someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or collapses after a sting, call 000 immediately and use their adrenaline autoinjector if they have one.
What you can do yourself
- Keep people and pets away from the nest
- Don't spray or knock down a nest yourself. It sets off the whole nest
How we treat wasps
We treat wasp nests with a fast-acting insecticide, then remove the nest once the wasps are dead.
How to prepare
- Tell us exactly where the nest is and roughly how high
- Keep the area clear of kids and pets on the day