Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park Integrated Pest Management for Wasps

Alberts, Susan

The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a complex of several individual park units extending over approximately 8,600 acres in Virginia from urban Fredericksburg to rural Spotsylvania County. The park includes forests, pastures, and farming units and contains numerous buildings, including 2 visitor centers, office buildings, and historic structures. The National Park Service has adopted the methods of integrated pest management (IPM) for control of any exotic or native species which are determined to be "pests." IPM utilizes mechanical and biological controls and prevention as primary tools and minimizes the use of pesticides. Most wasps located in the Fredericksburg area are native species. All wasps should be considered a beneficial insect in the natural environment. The National Park Service, by policy, does not control native species, however, these insects can become pests inside buildings or if they nest in the vicinity of buildings or along trails. Several different types of wasps could require chemical treatment as pests within the park, including yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps.