Cape Town battles invasive wasps to save bees
The German wasp and the European paper wasp are competing with indigenous species in the Cape Town area. The two types of wasps look almost identical, but the German wasp has black antennae, whereas the paper wasp’s are orange.
‘Invasive [species] compete with native species and can transform habitats to better suit them. In these cases, even if the invasive species could be removed, they would have permanently altered the native ecosystem,’ says Dr Ruan Veldtman of the SA National Biodiversity Institute.
When these wasps attack indigenous species such as honey bees, which are important pollinators, the ecosystem bears the burden.
They are also hazardous to anyone outdoors – hikers, gardeners and runners – as they are inclined to sting.
What do to if you see these wasps
You should submit a sighting to the City of Cape Town’s invasive species unit. It’s your responsibility to phone a pest control company to remove the wasps from your garden, but it will cost you anything from R650 to R1,900. The German wasp is particularly aggressive so you’ll need help from professionals.
