Pests of the Bay of Plenty - Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Wasps (common wasp, German wasp, Asian paperwasp, Australian paper wasp)Vespula spp., Polistes spp.The German wasp and Australian paper wasp arrived in NewZealand in the late 1880s, while the common and Asian paperwasps are more recent arrivals. The German wasp is slightlybigger than a honeybee, with a black head and thorax. Itsabdomen has yellow and black stripes with black spots. Thecommon wasp is similar, but does not have separate black dotson the abdomen. Australian paper wasps are black and reddishbrownin colour. Asian paper wasps are black and yellow-striped,but smaller than the German and common wasps. Paper wasps flywith their long legs dangling beneath their bodies.RESTRICTED pestsWild mice Mus musculusCommonly known as the house mouse or “kiore-iti”. Most mice arelight brown but they may also be white, grey or black. They arerampant in the New Zealand bush and, because they live closeto food sources, are also commonly found in households. Theyare most active in the evening or at night. Mice may also carrydiseases and are a threat to the food sources of native animals;they have also been known to predate on native lizards.Wild rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculusRabbits were introduced in the mid to late 1800s. In Otago theyrapidly became the number one pest, forcing many farmers offtheir land. A small to medium-sized herbivore, wild rabbits areusually grey-brown with a white underbelly and white under theirtail. The average weight is about 1.5 kg, with the males beingslightly larger. They are prolific breeders and can produce 45 to50 young each year; however the mortality rate in young rabbits isvery high (upwards of 80 percent die soon after birth.)A user guide to the Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan 2011 – 201643