European wasp nest unearthed on Tassie property believed to be world’s largest

THE world’s largest recorded subterranean European wasp nest has been found in Tasmania.

The gigantic two-year-old nest was discovered on a property at Karoola, on the East Tamar in northern Tasmania, by 12-year-old Jordan Waddingham.

It took two days for Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery honorary associate Simon Fearn to excavate the nest from a creek bank, and four men to carry the nest out of the bush.

Mr Fearn said: “Jordan’s mother was having real problems with European wasps but could not locate the nest. Instead she offered him $20 to find it.

“It was the quickest $20 Jordan has made. He located the nest among blackberries.

“It’s huge, it has six entrances.’’

QVMAG natural sciences curator David Maynard said European wasps normally didn’t survive through winter but last year’s mild winter — combined with the nest’s location — had enabled it to survive into its second year.

“A one-year-old nest is the size of a soccer ball, but this nest is the best part of a cubic metre,’’ Mr Maynard said.

He said a review of European literature on the wasps had identified the nest as the largest known to be removed from the ground.

The wasps usually make their nests in the ground but are also known to nest in trees and buildings.