German wasp

German wasps are invasive. They have spread to many continents and are especially successful at colonising new areas.1

They can outcompete many other animals for food, which has caused considerable harm to native wildlife where they have invaded.1

Female bee moths (Aphomia sociella) sometimes lay eggs in German wasp nests. Their larvae feed on the eggs, larvae and pupae, and can destroy large parts of the nest.1

In Australia, nests can grow very large and some survive the winter. In England, none of the nests in the study survive the winter.1

Queens mate with between one and seven males, and workers can lay eggs, although worker policing keeps most of their sons from reaching adulthood.1

Colonies grow rapidly over summer, with a large increase in worker numbers and nest size. In late summer, the colony focuses on producing new queens and males.1