Wasp-killer prepares for assault on nest
Subject: Wasp-killer prepares for assault on nest
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 10:00:24 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (http://www.getipm.com/)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State
of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read: TOP STORY
FRIDAY, 15 MARCH 2002
Wasp-killer prepares for assault on nest
14 MARCH 2002
A Kaitaia man will lead the assault on a massive wasp nest in
a Far North town today, by dangling from a helicopter and dropping poison
powder onto the pests.
The nest, described as a similar size to a car, has been the source of torment to locals in Pawarenga, in the Hokianga area, 42km southwest of Kaitaia, several of whom have already suffered stings.
Kaitaia man Mike Knight, who had to abort plans to attack the nest yesterday because of weather conditions, had his thirst for vengeance increased after suffering from the wasps himself.
When he visited his intended victims yesterday he was stung.
"I was zapped about three times. I was just visiting them and they got a bit aggro," he said. (Obviously this man was too "brave" to wear safety equipment then.)
But while the incident proved he wasn't allergic, he was taking no risks for the delicate operation on the nest, which sits 20m up in a tree.
After the Far North District Council said it would not destroy the nest, deemed a hazard to public health and the ecology, Mr Knight volunteered his services with help from friend, owner and pilot of Helicopter Operations Kingsley Thompson.
Massey University Associate-Professor in ecology Robin Fordham warned the wasps would not take the assault lying down.
"If you interfere with their nest they will attack. It is part of the job of the workers to protect the nest.
"They will attempt to sting and can sting repeatedly so can be a danger for people who knock the nest. They could get a lot of stings very quickly."
Mr Knight said he was well aware of the risks, and would be wearing a wading suit, a hooded wetsuit and a beekeeping outfit. He would also have a full-facial mask with a breathing filter.
The helicopter is to hover 30m above the ground to stop the Carbaryl powder he is using from blowing around. It would keep wasps away from the pilot - also in protective clothing - who would be leaning out of the helicopter to keep an eye on the action below.
Mr Knight is to hang from two ropes and expects the task around the nest to take about five minutes.
The chopper will then take him, still hanging, to an airstrip 2km away where Far North District Council workers would use fire extinguishers to rid him of wasps.
The nearby Pawarenga community centre and health clinic will be vacated for the exercise and the local school and farmers had been warned.
Mr Knight said the wasps outside the nest should die within five to 10 minutes of the poison being administered, but thought the whole nest would take more than 12 hours to die.
Carbaryl is placed into nest entrances and the wasps then carry the powder deeper into the nest.
Well Mr. Helliker,
I am sure the "delicate" helicopter blades will blow the "hel" out of the dropped POISON powder and the nest! I would not stand too close to the resulting "registered" contamination, wind and angry wasps!
Note : you should always wear the proper safety equipment. All they would have to do to safely and effectively remove these wasps, would be to simply (and carefully) secure a vacuum (or rinse and vac) hose to a ladder and then position the sucking end near the nest's opening(s). You can do this at night using a red light or during the day if you leave the vacuum (or rinse and vac) running. You can visually see when you have positioned the sucking end right; because every stinging insect will be quickly inhaled by the vacuum. Put soapy water in the rinse and vac or a small amount of talcum powder in the dry vacuum to kill them as they are trapped in the canister. You can always do this later if you forgot (to do this before you begin) or if there are any survivors. Let the vacuum or rinse and vac run from dawn to dusk and you will safely and effectively vacuum up the stinging insects - of course this alternative treatment would not be "legal" in California - because vacuums, soapy water and/or talcum powder are not "registered" pesticides/POISONS. There are dozens of non-toxic alternatives to safely and effectively control stinging insects, none of which apparently are currently "legal" in California.
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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