The efficacy of Vespex® wasp bait to control Vespula species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Transitioning from trials to pest control tool, the efficacy of controlling wasps Vespula vulgaris and V. germanica using Vespex® wasp bait was tested in 2015. Vespex® is a protein-based bait matrix with 0.1% fipronil. Five sites ranging <300 to >2000 ha and over 5500 ha in total had bait stations placed 300 × 50 m apart and received one application of Vespex®. Wasp nest traffic rates declined 93% in four days at one site, and over 97% after 20–38 days at all other sites. Measured honeydew availability also improved post wasp control. Further demonstrating feasibility, five different agencies worked closely with government leading many programme aspects. Vespex® was made more widely available in New Zealand towards the end of 2015. Web page information showed ∼30% of all territorial authorities nationally are engaging in pest wasp problems. This signals a future potential in the way that pest wasps might be managed in a community context for social, economic and biodiversity conservation objectives.

KEYWORDS:

• Vespula germanica
• V. vulgaris
• pest wasp
• wide-scale control
• Vespex®
• fipronil
• protein bait
• honeydew

Acknowledgments

Phil Lester and an anonymous reviewer are kindly acknowledged for improving drafts. Five New Zealand organisations provided support in-kind and field support including; Friends of Rotoiti (for Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project), Forest and Bird Society Nelson-Tasman Branch (for Pelorus Bridge), Waimakariri Environment and Recreation Committee of the Waimakariri Ecological and Landscape Restoration alliance (for Craigieburn Basin), Project Janzoon (for Falls River) and Zero Invasive Predators Ltd. (for Bottle Rock Peninsula).

Disclosure statement

The second author is a director of the company manufacturing Vespex® wasp bait.

Additional information

Funding

The following Three New Zealand organisations provided financial support; Department of Conservation, Project Janzoon (for Falls River) and Zero Invasive Predators Ltd. (for Bottle Rock Peninsula).