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Cape Town – Cape Town residents need to keep an eye out for invasive wasps that are slowly waking up from dormancy, the City said on Monday.
Wasp season was usually from September to May, during warmer periods, said environmental mayoral committee member Johan van der Merwe.
He said the European paper wasp and German wasp that plagued residents last summer were starting to re-emerge.
According to legislation, scientists had categorised these alien species as posing a threat to the local ecosystem and industries such as deciduous fruit, wine and beekeeping.
The wasps, therefore, had to be removed by law.
He said property owners were responsible for pest control on their premises, but that the City would assist where it could.
"Residents are encouraged to report sightings to the city or contact a reputable pest control company."
The City's Invasive Wasp Control (IWC) team had removed 8 000 European paper wasp nests since its launch last year.
The core areas of infestation included Durbanville, Kuils River, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein and Bellville.
Van der Merwe said European paper wasp nests were removed from homes closer to central Cape Town, which indicated the invasion was on the increase.
The sting from these wasps was "particularly painful".
The city would try to arrange wasp removals with residents who uploaded their sightings here.
