Asian Paper Wasp
The Asian Paper Wasp has a strong will to survive and it is that survival instinct that has allowed it to thrive outside of its original habitats on the Asian continent.
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In 1979, these invaders were first found in parts of New Zealand and it was believed that they had arrived in the country a year or two previously. In any event, by the time they were discovered, they had become so abundant that all efforts to eradicate them from the country were unsuccessful. Studies have shown that these insects are drawn to warm and sunny areas that are inhabited by other insects that they like to eat.
The bugs are distinguished by their slender, reddish brown o black bodies with yellow rings and more reddish colored areas on the abdomen. Like much of the body, the wings are also reddish or amber brown and their legs are exceedingly long and hard to miss when the insects are flying through the air.
The wasps collect nectar and honeydew and hunt and kill invertebrates, especially the larvae of moths and butterflies. This is often their primary source of protein.
After surviving the winter, the females of the species emerge in the spring and begin constructing nests in preparation for the laying of eggs. Here’s an interesting fact. The first brood of the season, which will hatch in late spring or early summer, contains all females.
