Tiny sting uncovers world's biggest nest
Jordan Waddingham will never have another hunting trip like this.
The intrepid Tasmanian 12-year-old has landed himself a world record and some extra pocket money after unearthing what is believed to be the largest European wasp nest ever discovered.
Jordan found the cubic metre-sized nest buried in a creekbed on his family's property near Karoola to the north east of Launceston.
The lucky find came after he headed out to uncover the source of the European wasps that had recently plagued the area, the ABC reports.
Launceston Queen Victoria Museum honorary research fellow Simon Fearn told the ABC Jordan’s find was probably about a year older than most European wasp nests.
"A one-year-old nest is the size of a soccer ball, but this nest takes up the best part of a cubic metre," he said.
"Normally European wasp nests don't survive through winter but last year's mild, dry winter allowed it to survive into its second year.
The nest had to be destroyed and removed under cover of darkness when the wasps were dormant, and will now go on display at the museum over the Easter long weekend.
It took two days to remove the nest from the creek bed.
Jordan can now claim to be the world’s premier wasp hunter, and he even earned $20 from the museum for his efforts.
