Victoria battles worsening wasp invasion amid warm winters
The state of Victoria in Australia is grappling with a wasp invasion, causing fear among residents and losses for local business owners. "I think it's the warm winters; in the last five years we haven't really seen the cold weather that we're used to seeing. With climate change it's only going to get worse," admitted pest control expert Chris Pianto.
The Australian state of Victoria is facing a serious problem related to a wasp invasion. Residents are terrified, and businesses are incurring losses. Natasha Hall, the owner of a café in Daylesford, had to close her establishment for three days due to the insects that were disrupting its operations. "We make all our own sausage rolls and pastries here, and the wasps just started coming in while we're baking," she said in an interview with ABC News. "We can't get wasps in our food, it would be the end of everything," she added.
Serious problem in Australia
The wasp invasion is also affecting residents of Creswick. "They come on all of a sudden at this time of year and just seem to be everywhere," admitted resident Parisse Permezel in an interview with local media. She noted that the situation is worsening each year and added that her children have to avoid playing outside.
Meanwhile, in Ballarat, a resident discovered a huge wasp nest in the walls of her home. "I tapped on the wall and it was something out of a horror movie... I could hear the sound of the wasps flying inside my wall," she recounts, emphasizing how terrifying the experience was.
The scale of the problem was also highlighted by a spokesperson for the Victoria state environmental protection department. He stated that the wasps have "established in and cannot be eradicated."
Future forecasts are not optimistic
Experts point out that the problem is intensifying due to warmer winters, which allow nests to survive. "A lot of the nests [usually] die over winter, so [if it's warmer] they last right through the winter and we have a huge problem," admitted pest control expert Chris Pianto.
Local authorities recommend using specialized services to destroy nests and install traps. Wasp stings can be dangerous, especially for people with allergies.
