17 November 2014
Karl Webber
Email – [FYI request #2156 email]
Dear Mr Webber
Thank you for your letter of 6 November 2014 regarding wasp control on Kapiti
Island and the three offshore islands.
The Kapiti/Wellington Office of the Department undertakes wasp control on Kapiti
Island around public facilities where visitors to the island are potentially at risk.
This control is reliant on staff locating wasp nests and using a pesticide to destroy
the nest. The pesticide the Department uses is Permex. This is available for
purchase from: Pest Management Services; 1/37 Te Roto Drive, Paraparaumu, Tel
0800 111 466 or 04 2982766.
At present the Kapiti/Wellington Team is not planning to undertake any large
scale wasp control on Kapiti Island. The main reasons for this are:
1) Although wasps will be having some impact on the Kapiti Island ecosystem it is
unlikely that this pest will cause significant ecological damage.
2) It is very expensive and difficult to undertake effective control using pesticides,
and
3) The use of biological control, using the parasitoid is not that successful.
Mathematical modelling suggests that the parasitoid may suppress wasp
density by a maximum of 25% after 20–30 years.
Attached is a spreadsheet of nests controlled and their locations.
If you have any further queries about this issue please contact Brent Tandy, Senior
Ranger Biodiversity, Kapiti/Wellington District – Tel 04 470 8412.
Yours sincerely
Damian Coutts
Conservation Services Manager
Lower North Island
Encl. 1
OIA-E-282 - Kapiti Wasp Control OIA letter
Treated wasp register
Date
Nest Location
Action ( Tick )
Comment
Location
In a
Outside Advised
Council or
E.G., number
building
self
help
Department land
and size of nest, wasp type etc
Kapiti Island - Rangatira,
January 2013
underneath clothes line of Red
x
x
DOC
large nest - German
Ranger House
March 2013
Kapiti Island - Rangatira, Trig
track 1/3 up
x
x
DOC
Hopeful this is nest relating to 'K' hihi feeder -
German
Kapiti Island - Rangatira,
March 2013
lowland track, 50m from
x
x
DOC
Large nest, base of tree - German
Northern end.
Feb/March 2013
Otaki Forks - by picnic area
swingbridge
x
x
DOC
Feb/March 2013
Otaki Forks - wet weather track
to Waitewaewae
x
x
DOC
January 2014
Rangatira-North End track
X
X
3x nests located between trap boxes 262-158, al in
the base of flax plants.
Feb 2014
Wharekohu
X
X
Small nest, 10m from Wharekohu Hut in
grass.
Feb 2014
Wharekohu
X
X
Small nest, 30m from Wharekohu Hut in
grass.
Feb 2014
Rangatira
x
x
Trig track, between hihi feeders 40 and K.
OIA-E-282 - Kapiti Wasp Control OIA letter
Treated wasp register
Date
Nest Location
Action ( Tick )
Comment
Location
In a
Outside Advised
Council or
E.G., number
building
self
help
Department land
and size of nest, wasp type etc
Large nest, nest entrance was about 80mm
March 2014
Rangatira
X
X
across. Nest located 15m from end of
concrete path below red house.
Mar 2014
North End scrub
x
x
Approx 40 nests around the manuka scrub
area.
Apr 2014
Rangatira
x
x
Behind Whare on bank 2.5m up.
Apr 2014
Rangatira
x
x
Below Rd House, 15m off concrete path
towards creek. Ground nest.
Apr 2014
Rangatira
x
x
Junction of Rangatira loop and beach track,
ground nest.
OIA-E-282 - Kapiti Wasp Control OIA letter