23/07/2026
A huge thank you to everyone who came along to Kaituna Hall last night for the first of our Kaituna Nature Nights.
We were treated to a fascinating and engaging talk by Dr Mateus Detoni, who had us looking at wasps in a whole new light. We learnt that German and common wasps are at their most aggressive when defending a nest containing larvae. One memorable takeaway: if you get stung, don't swat the wasp. A crushed wasp releases alarm pheromones that can trigger nearby wasps to join the attack.
Mateus also gave us an insight into the Auckland hornet response, including remarkable footage of worker hornets being fitted with tiny microchips so they can be tracked back to their nest. It's an ingenious "seek, find and destroy" strategy that will hopefully eradicate the invasion before these predators become a serious threat to New Zealand's honeybees.
Around 30 people headed home with full bellies, thanks to the delicious soup provided by the Kaituna Red Cross, and plenty of new knowledge about the fascinating world of wasps.
Keep an eye on this page for details of our next Kaituna Nature Night. We'd love to see you there!
