mmg.com.au

People eating outside, getting petrol or playing at a playground beware: European wasps are swarming across Shepparton.

They appeared at SPC Ardmona KidsTown last week, but their numbers have increased since the weekend.

KidsTown and nearby Degani Bakery Cafe at Riverside Plaza have had to call in the services of Solar City Pest Control owner Greg Preston to try to battle the yellow and black menaces.

European wasps are also hassling people near Victoria Park Lake.

Mr Preston said the insects generally made their nests near water courses. He said in 10 years he had not had to deal with them, then got two calls in one day.

‘‘They weren’t in Australia until 1979 when they first made it to Tasmania. Then they made it across the Bass Strait to Melbourne and it appears they’re making their way north,’’ he said.

Mr Preston said there wasn’t a lot of information in Australia about how to fight the invading insects, so he was relying on the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

He does know they are attracted to food, with meat being their first preference, followed by fruit.

While waiting for traps from a supplier, Mr Preston went to every hardware store in Shepparton looking for traps, but was only able to find two as others had sold out.

In the meantime he set up traps with lamb’s liver (European wasps’ favourite snack) laced with insecticide in an effort to start reducing numbers.

‘‘These wasps swarm and unlike a bee, which will sting you once then fly away and die, a wasp will sting you again and again,’’ Mr Preston said.

‘‘There can be up to 100,000 in a nest, which looks like papier mache and are up to the size of a football.’’

KidsTown playground acting co-ordinator Tracey Toy said given the hot weather and the lifecycle of the wasps, they could be around for several months.

‘‘We are asking anyone at KidsTown or the All Abilities Playground to be vigilant,’’ she said.

‘‘If you are drinking from a bottle or can, use a straw as a wasp may have gotten into the container.

‘‘If you see any wasps, leave them alone as they are unlikely to attack unless provoked.’’