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Photo by WSDA
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Asian giant hornets in the nest.
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Photo by WSDA
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WSDA entomologists analyzing the nest and its contents.
In an industry already badly stung by the Covid-19 pandemic, now we have to deal with Asian Giant Hornets, an existential threat to the honey bees so crucial to the fruit growing sector.
Native to Asia and parts of the Russian Far East, the huge insects sometimes known, for good reason, as ‘Murder Hornets’ have now been found in multiple locations throughout the Pacific Northwest, beginning in late 2019.
Now these new pests have stirred up their own hornet’s nests. They’ve angered the humans, who have launched a campaign to eradicate Giant Asian Hornets from North America. On Oct. 24 entomologists wearing what looked like space suits successfully destroyed a nest by sucking the bugs out with special vacuums, and then pumping carbon dioxide into the nest to knock them out and collect the rest.
Horrifyingly, in addition to the hundreds of worker bees in the nest, the officials found 76 queens, ready to start new colonies throughout the region.
In fact, that’s already happening as the sixth Asian Giant Hornet was found in the Fraser Valley of BC; a clear indication nests have been established north of the border.
So, why is this such a big problem? Regular Murder Hornets are massive compared to regular hornets or wasps, with workers averaging 3.8 cm long (1.5 inches), and boasting a 6mm (1/4 inch) stinger with venom so powerful that multiple stings can kill a human being even if they’re not allergic. In Japan, between 12 to 26 people are killed annually.
More seriously, however, Asian Giants prey on honey bees. They are intensely predatory, and fewer than 50 hornets can exterminate a colony of tens of thousands of bees in a few hours.
"We are working very closely with the Washington State Department of Agriculture to try to locate nests and then go through an eradication program," said Paul van Westendorp.
The Ministry of Agriculture will be working with their American partners to track and eradicate Asian Giant Hornet nests, and hope to completely wipe out the invasive species.
Anyone who thinks they have seen an Asian Giant Hornet is asked to report the sighting to the Invasive Species Council of BC at 1-888-933-3722.
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