Provespa wasp arrival in Queenstown, another unwanted import

Abstract

In April 2017, a live Provespa nocturnal, tropical wasp species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), that reproduces by swarming, with a natural distribution from India (East Himalayas) to Indonesia (East Java), was found in a domestic garden in Queenstown. Considering the cold winters in Queenstown and the sterile worker specimen identified, the impact would appear to be minimal. The most likely entry point into New Zealand would appear to be via luggage, equipment or the cargo hold of an aircraft arriving at Queenstown airport via Auckland or Australia from Asia.