Fight against European wasp nests

The majority of those were in Cockburn and industrial suburbs including Welshpool, Maddington and Kewdale, plus the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Senior technical officer Marc Widmer said environmental conditions in WA allowed European wasp numbers to grow considerably.

“In Europe, these wasp nests perish at the onset of winter but not so in WA with its mild winters,” he said.

Besides Cockburn, Mr Widmer said there had also been finds in other areas of Perth.

“Industrial suburbs are freight end points so rather than attracting the wasp queens it is more that they are transported there from the infested eastern states,” he said.

“That is where they end up and so initiate nests in those areas.”

Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the majority of the nests found in Cockburn were located using trap surveillance.

“To stop these pests from establishing themselves in WA, the City encourages residents to take part in the Adopt-A-Trap initiative, whereby they notify the department if any European wasps are found in a trap so it can be investigated and any nests found nearby can be destroyed,” he said.

Smartphone and computer mapping programs also show the community where traps are.

Call 1800 084 881 to report a nest.