Boffa Miskell Ltd | Pest Animal Management Plan | Wharekirauponga Compensation Package | 30 May 2022 11 2.9 Wasps German and Common wasps (Vespula germanica, Vespula vulgaris) have established in immense numbers across New Zealand since their introduction in the 1900s, resulting in New Zealand now having the highest density of wasps in the world (Barlow & Goldson, 2002). Their considerable impacts on New Zealand native forest ecosystems are becoming well understood. The impacts of Vespula spp. in South Island honeydew beech forest ecosystems, especially highlights the deleterious effects they have on native invertebrate communities and the resulting cascade effects that follow in our native forest ecosystems. Wasps outcompete a range of birds, lizards and invertebrates that also feed on honeydew and in some cases have been indicated to cause a decline in abundance of several bird species as a result (Beggs, 2001). The probability of survival for some particularly vulnerable invertebrate species is near zero unless wasps are significantly reduced. There are also records of wasps attacking and killing nestling birds (Beggs, 2001; Potter-Craven et al., 2018). Although not as destructive, paper wasps (Polistes chinensis) were reported to collect an estimated 31-957 g of invertebrate biomass per hectare per season, with wasp nest densities varying from 20 and 210 nests per hectare in a Northland study (Clapperton, 1999). Although the potential effects of wasps on reptile communities is not well documented, it is highly likely wasps pose an equally significant threat to reptile populations. Also note that wasps pose a significant health and safety threat to contractors and workers (including those undertaking pest management), and toxic means of control are therefore included in this WAPMP.
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