Dumbleyung landowners asked to be on lookout for European wasps after pest unexpectedly imported into area

Residents in one Great Southern shire are being asked to be vigilant after it was discovered a pest had been unknowingly imported into the area.

The Shire of Dumbleyung put up a public notice on Friday after a local farmer discovered four hibernating queen European wasps in farming supplies sent from rural Victoria.

The goods were originally sent to the town of Goomalling near Northam before the farmer collected them and took them back to their Dumbleyung property.

The queens were only discovered once the supplies were in Dumbleyung.

They have since been destroyed.

The Shire will set up trapping grids around Dumbleyung and Kukerin in a bid to prevent the invasive wasp from establishing in these areas.

That is expected to occur around December, with monitoring to continue until mid-2023.

Signs of the European wasp include feeding on meat, fruit, human and pet food, drinks, other insects and dead animals.

Other traits include going in and out of a single hole in the ground due to most of their nests being located underground, and raising their legs while flying.

Anyone who sees suspicious insect activity is encourage to report it to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development through the MyPestGuide Reporter app, or by contacting DPIRD’s Pest and Disease Information service on 9368 3080 or padis@dpird.wa.gov.au.