On May 13, 1:03*pm, Trish Brown wrote:
What do I do? I spent a fruitless half-hour stalking the little buggers
with a fly swatter (yeah, I know - stupid!). They wouldn't sit still
long enough for me to thwack 'em, nor even allow me to deliver a sharp
forehand volley in fresh air. I'm very reluctant to spray anything
about, since we have a lot of frogs and lizards living among our veg.
What to do???

I can't see any nest or definite place from which the wasps are coming,
although there's an old (empty?) paper wasps' nest up under the eaves of
the house. There are swarms of these blasted European things, though,
and it's starting to get dangerous to go out in the yard. Any and all
help gratefully appreciated! =:-0

--
Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia


Dear Trish

I have had no experience with European Wasps or with tracking
insects. However I do recall many years ago
reading about Australian Aboriginal techniques for tracking native
bees to their hives. I think they used to
catch one and stick some white fluff onto it which made it easier to
follow through the bush. Perhaps a risky
technique with European Wasps!!

However, I googled "tracking native bees" and as expected I found a
native bees enthusiasts' site. These people
seem to know more about native bees than anyone needs to know, and
some of them must know how to track insects through the bush. Despite
the neighbours' fences I think that tracking them in the suburbs will
probably be easier than in the bush. From the sound of the web page
the native bee people would probably be a helpful group, and I think
they would probably share your hostility towards European Wasps.

From other people's comments, it does seem as if finding the hive
would be the ideal place to start.

The link is http://www.aussiebee.com.au/abol-011.html

Yours

Norm