1. By: Samantha Earl-Goulet and Thomas Simpson.

2.  The German wasp were first brought to New Zealand in 1954  The wasp has a narrow waist, between the thorax and abdomen. They have two pairs of wings, and have distinct black and yellow strips  We do not have any use for non-native wasps here in New Zealand  There have been non-native nests found with 3,000-5,000 wasps in them (teare,2009), (Kiwicare,2009),and (Ecan,2009), (Doc, 2011)

3.  Argentine Ants were introduced to New Zealand in 1990 at the site of Mt Smart, New Zealand  They originated from Brazil and Argentina  Argentine Ants are able to completely eliminate other colonies of ants, and can eat other types of insects and earthworms forest and bird, December 2002

4.  Wasps belong to the Hymenoptera group  Males do not sting  There are three kinds of native Wasps in New Zealand  Don’t shine a light on a Wasps nests (Kiwicare,2009), (Ecan, 2009)

5.  Unlike other ant species, Argentine ant colonies cooperate with each other, and can combine over winter into super- colonies.  The best way to tell Argentine ants from other ants is by their colour and trails.  Argentine ants are small (2-3 mm long) and honey-brown in colour, while most other common household ants in New Zealand are black.  Did you know that Argentine ants don't smell when squashed? http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/threats-and-impacts/animal-pests/animal-pests-a-z/argentine-ants/facts/

6. WWasps have a major impact on New Zealand's indigenous ecosystem through competition for food sources, and predation on native insects 990% of honeydew standing crop may be reduced in peak wasp season, affecting the feeding of the Kaka, Bellbird, Tui, and Silvereye AA wasps sting produces localised swelling and itching in most humans AApproximately two people die every three years from wasp or bee sting (Ecan, 2009), (Doc, 2009)

7.  The Argentine Ant is one of the worlds worst invasive species  Argentine ants are capable of forming super colonies of billions of individuals  A single ants colony has been recorded to cover 6000 kilometres  Argentine Ants are extremely domestic pest they invade cupboards, sealed jars, electrical areas, and behind walls forest and bird December 2002

8.  A Wasps life cycle has four stages in it  First the adult female lays an egg  Then a larva hatches, eats, and grows  Next it forms a pupa  Eventually an adult emerges (Te Are, 2009)

9.  There are three main stages of the argentine ants life, the larva, the pupa, and the mature adult  The pupa period lasts for 10-25 days  All together it takes two months for the Argentine Ant to fully mature http://www.aboutpest.com/archives/267

10.  In New Zealand our winter conditions can be mild it means that more than the queen can survive which means the nests can grow even larger  Wasp can be killed using No Wasp Spray, Poison, or No Wasps Dust  New Zealand's government is working on getting rid of wasps by chemical control which is spraying the nest, physical control which is burning the nest, and a biological control which is a insect that goes into the wasps nest and slowly starts to destroy it (Kiwicare, 2009)

11.  Remove or securely store all food favoured by ants  Trim trees near your house to stop ants getting onto your roof  In order to keep control of new population of ants early detection is essential if you think you have the ants send a sample to landcare research at the address Argentine ant survey Landcare research Private Bag 6, Nelson and they will reply if it is indeed argentine ants.  The Tasman District and Nelson City Council’s have undertaken surveillance over the last five years from 2004 to 2009. Additional funding allowed more intensive surveillance in 2007 and 2008.  The inclusion of Argentine and Darwin’s ants in the Nelson Tasman Regional Pest Management Strategy in 2007 requires compulsory baiting by affected residents.  The nelson government has done no such action so far about the argentine ant but they are planning to forest and bird December 2002,Nelson city council

12.  I believe wasps are a bigger pest in New Zealand because they compete with our native birds for food sources, and can effect humans health in negative ways  In New Zealand our winters are only mild which gives a chance for a wasps nests to become even larger then they would in colder places

13. Judgement!  I strongly believe that the argentine ant is more of a pest than the wasp because one colony is able to cover hundreds of kilometres and almost cover the whole west side of the north island Argentine ants recent activities