Staff Writer
Cape Town has a growing infestation of the invasive European paper and German wasps, and the City is gearing itself up to remove as many of the nests as possible.
Last year, many workers harvesting grapes and other fruit were stung by the wasps – painfully so.
The wasps also present a danger to people who may unintentionally disturb a colony.
The City’s Invasive Wasp Control (IWU) team is on call to safely remove the nests after the operation was launched in October last year. It aims to reduce the wasp population in the city.
Mayco member for energy, environmental and spatial planning Johan van der Merwe said the IWC team has safely removed wasp nests, mostly from the core areas of infestation in Durbanville, Kuils River, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein and Bellville.
He said IWC teams removed 8 000 European paper wasp nests from Durbanville, Kuils River, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein and Bellville.
European paper wasp nests were also removed from homes in Bothasig, Ottery, Plumstead, Constantia, Woodstock, Athlone and Wetton, which Van der Merwe says is an indication that the invasion is increasing.
“With the onset of spring, the invasive European paper wasps and the German wasps that plagued residents last summer are starting to re-emerge. The wasps have been dormant during winter so, as the weather warms up, they will start waking up,” said Van der Merwe.
He said if nests were removed privately, property owners must send a report containing their street address and the number of nests removed in an e-mail to invasive.species@capetown. gov.za
The IWC teams are neither trained nor equipped to deal with bee removals and if residents require that, they should contact a professional beekeeper. The team will also not exterminate indigenous wasps, said Van der Merwe.
Residents who would like assistance can upload sightings on the spotter network at www.capetowninvasives. org.za/edrr/target-list and will be contacted to arrange for the removal of the nests.