Did you know wasps could have a serious effect on plant pollination?
In a region known as the fruit bowl of New Zealand, it's a concerning thought - one that will be addressed as part of a discussion run by ecology experts from Wellington's Victoria University.
Dr Nicky Nelson and Professor Phil Lester from the School of Biological Sciences will discuss population dynamics of tuatara and wasps in a public lecture next Wednesday from 5.30pm at EIT.
Mr Lester will cover measures being taken to remove the sting from wasps - one of the country's most abundant and damaging pests. They kill baby native birds as they hatch and attack bee hives for both the honey and larvae. They are attracted to willow aphids, which are prevalent in Hawke's Bay.
"It has been suggested that they are going to affect pollination - they are killing off lots of native insects, they raid bee hives," Mr Lester said.