There's been a big drop in the number of nests of non-native European wasps uncovered in the ACT over the summer.

One reason is the active program of eradication by the territory government last summer.

CoreEnviro Solutions senior pest and weed officer Jim Bariesheff inspects a European Wasp nest in Evatt. Credit:Jay Cronan

But another is that the exceptional heat has displeased wasps (as it has displeased humans) - but in the case of the insects, it put them off breeding so pest nest numbers dwindled.

According to Jim Bariesheff, the city's wasp expert who deals with nests, there were 450 nests of European wasps found up to the end of last summer compared with 131 so far this summer. The hot weather may not be over yet but the numbers are unlikely to rise to last year's levels.