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There are several kinds of New Zealand native wasps which have never become a nuisance. Pest wasps include German, common and the paper wasps. They can be distinguished from bees by there distinct black and yellow stripes and hairless bodies.
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Honey bees show much less distinct stripes of browns with Bumble bees having much larger furry bodies.
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After hibernating over winter, the queen wasp starts building her nest laying between 10-20 eggs. Once through the larval stage the new workers that emerge continue with the enlargement of the nest and take care of feeding the new larvae.
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The wasps are competitive with native birds, bats, insects and lizards for flowers and fruit and damage the balance of the ecosystem. Humans and other animals are stung by wasps and bees while tramping in the bush or having a barbecue in the garden.
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Nest sizes increase through the summer as colony sizes increase. Nests reach their peak size in autumn containing 3,000 - 5000 individuals.
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Paper wasp nests are far smaller than the German nests, therefore is far less of a direct threat to people. It is a threat to native insect species such as Monarch Butterflies on which it feeds, prompting protection from humans.
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Wasps and bee stings are painful stings and in rare occasions can cause anaphylactic shock. Stings on the throat or mouth can still be dangerous if the swelling blocks airways. Honeybees have a painful sting causing bad reactions to some people. Due to the bee sting being barbed it will stick in human skin when the bee flies or brushed off. The sting should be scraped out with a fingernail and not pinched out as the sting will pump the venom into the skin. The sting also releases a pheromone (smell) that attracts other bees to the sting site. Seek independent medical advice upon being stung.
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Bees produce honey and pollinate our crops and flowers. Occasionally a bee swarm will set up in your home such as under the eaves of your house.
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There likely to be a honey store in the nest if bees have been present for months or years. This honey must be removed after the colony has been destroyed as it will attract new swarms of bees or wasps.
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