It is a cool autumn morning in north-east Victoria, but already there are European wasps trying to get into the shops. "They can be absolutely shocking some days," said Janet Martin, the manager ...

European wasps are wreaking havoc in regional Victoria as a hotter-than-usual autumn spurs an increase in their numbers. The wasps have a painful and potentially dangerous sting, forcing some ...

Mrs Payne warned residents to stay away from European wasp nests, due to the aggressive behaviour of the bugs. “These wasps are far more aggressive than a normal native wasp,” she said.

The males have their own rituals. Each fall, male European paper wasps in the Southern United States gather in huge swarms at the tallest point they can find to wait for potential mates.

A Victorian government environment department spokesperson said European wasps were "established and cannot be eradicated". "Agriculture Victoria can provide advice to landholders wishing to ...