Okanagan's Most UnWanted
European Paper Wasp; Dalmatian Toadflax; Partners in crime
Invasive Species- A Definition
More About The Partners In Crime Below
Dalmatian Toadflax and European Paper Wasps
European Paper Wasps are suspected to have hangouts all over Southern British Columbia; one recent sighting was on July 21st, 2013, in the Kootenays. This species had possibly appeared by crossing the continent from the East, or on a boat from Asia. Considering the name, we suppose we don't have to say that they originated from Europe. Crimes caused by this criminal include the following: they feed on nectar from flowers and other sugary liquids, making it a problem in fruit growing areas, they injure the fruit by biting of the skin, they are a threat to birds, and they spread bacteria, yeast, and fungi that harm fruit, causing a nuisance to workers and pickers. Unfortunately, this species reproduces easily, for the Queen mates with more than one male wasp, causing the quick reproduction. The government is taking precautions to get rid of this species. These precautions include: using chemicals, using the homemade wasp trap (juice, or a sugary liquid in a bottle cut a certain way so once the wasps are in, they can't get out). Thankfully, most of the wasps die off individually in the cold fall weather, so they aren't that hard to get rid of.
Dalmatian Toadflax: A Physical Description
European Paper Wasp: A Physical Description
Fun Facts and Bibliography
- Dalmatian Toadflax can withstand the low temperatures
- Mature Dalmatian Toadflax plants can produce up to 500 000 seeds annually
- http://alienspecies.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/eng/content/home
- http://bcinvasives.ca/
- Video is from YouTube
- Pictures found on Google Images