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packman

(16,296 posts)
Sun May 3, 2020, 10:38 AM May 2020

Christ Awmitee - If the C-19 doesn't scare you, try this



Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is the world's largest species of hornet. In December 2019, WSDA received and verified four reports of Asian giant hornet near Blaine and Bellingham. These are the first-ever sighting in the United States. Canada had also discovered Asian giant hornet in two locations in British Columbia in the fall of 2019.

Asian giant hornet attacks and destroys honeybee hives. A few hornets can destroy a hive in a matter of hours. The hornets enter a "slaughter phase" where they kill bees by decapitating them. They then defend the hive as their own, taking the brood to feed their own young. They also attack other insects but are not known to destroy entire populations of those insects.

While they do not generally attack people or pets, they can attack when threatened. Their stinger is longer than that of a honeybee and their venom is more toxic. They can also sting repeatedly.

https://agr.wa.gov/departments/insects-pests-and-weeds/insects/hornets
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Christ Awmitee - If the C-19 doesn't scare you, try this (Original Post) packman May 2020 OP
Just add them to the list. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2020 #1
:) My first thought also. Hortensis May 2020 #6
JFC - just the photo makes my heart pnwest May 2020 #2
WTH? Why my state? Arghhh! lettucebe May 2020 #3
Good news! They are going to capture and tag them McCamy Taylor May 2020 #4
Saw a close up pic of these varmits yesterday Bayard May 2020 #5
Thank you for the horrible news. zanana1 May 2020 #7
Many beehives have to be fitted with small wire mesh to anly allow honeybees to enter. TheBlackAdder May 2020 #8
Just six of those Asian giant hornets can carry off a full grown human LuckyCharms May 2020 #9
Christ, I didn't know that packman May 2020 #10
I hear they can also fly in some hurricanes NotASurfer May 2020 #11
Guess what the last thing is that goes through thier mind before they hit your window? LuckyCharms May 2020 #14
They're sizing up their targets on the other side of the glass NotASurfer May 2020 #15
Buzz off. roamer65 May 2020 #12
So who released them in our country? rockfordfile May 2020 #13
Do you really need to ask? BruceWane May 2020 #16
...... Tanuki May 2020 #17
I saw this story on TV a couple of days ago..What are these hornets, "Natural Enemies"? Stuart G May 2020 #18
They don't have enemies. Only targets maxrandb May 2020 #19
F18's? The Super Hornet MoonlitKnight May 2020 #22
Too bad Hollywood is shut down or we'd have "Hornetnado" RhodeIslandOne May 2020 #20
OMGAWD!!!!!!! a kennedy May 2020 #21

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,806 posts)
1. Just add them to the list.
Sun May 3, 2020, 10:49 AM
May 2020

We've already got pestilence, locusts, volcanic eruption, radioactive forest fire, tornados, floods, hurricanes and Trump.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
6. :) My first thought also.
Mon May 4, 2020, 10:17 AM
May 2020

Oh, well. At least we're also got genetic engineering, which Noah didn't or he could have set sail with his family and some cell samples in a locker.

McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)
4. Good news! They are going to capture and tag them
Sun May 3, 2020, 12:18 PM
May 2020

and then track down their nests and exterminate the nest. You cannot put a tracker on a honey bee but these dudes are big enough that they can carry a tracker home with them. So do not despair. It should be possible to eliminate these bee killing mothers.

Bayard

(22,123 posts)
5. Saw a close up pic of these varmits yesterday
Sun May 3, 2020, 12:21 PM
May 2020

But it didn't show the scale of just how HUGE they are! I am officially terrified.

TheBlackAdder

(28,211 posts)
8. Many beehives have to be fitted with small wire mesh to anly allow honeybees to enter.
Mon May 4, 2020, 10:29 AM
May 2020

.

There are other wasps that attack honeybee hives, that are 50% larger than a honeybee.

.

LuckyCharms

(17,454 posts)
9. Just six of those Asian giant hornets can carry off a full grown human
Mon May 4, 2020, 10:41 AM
May 2020

thousands of feet into the air, to be brought back to their nest, which is normally found inside active volcanos.

There have been two documented cases of this.

These hornets are also known carriers of rabies.

And the clap.

NotASurfer

(2,153 posts)
11. I hear they can also fly in some hurricanes
Mon May 4, 2020, 02:31 PM
May 2020

Up to cat 2 winds

Cat 3 and up, it just smashes them through your windows and they are really pissed when they get smashed through windows

NotASurfer

(2,153 posts)
15. They're sizing up their targets on the other side of the glass
Mon May 4, 2020, 03:51 PM
May 2020

Clearly these are not normal insects that merely splatter and die. The only thing they should fear is Hulk, because trying to sting Hulk jus makes Hulk smash

Stuart G

(38,439 posts)
18. I saw this story on TV a couple of days ago..What are these hornets, "Natural Enemies"?
Mon May 4, 2020, 03:59 PM
May 2020

any ideas? Bats? Birds? etc?.. The stories don't say..do they?

maxrandb

(15,345 posts)
19. They don't have enemies. Only targets
Mon May 4, 2020, 04:27 PM
May 2020

Honeybees have adapted a defense. They form a ball of bees around the hornet, and the bees wing flapping greatly increases the temperature and CO2 level within the ball. This kills the giant wasp, and more importantly, prevent them from signaling their friends to come and wipe out the hive. It's actually pretty cool.

Just 40-60 of these things can completely destroy an entire hive of thousands of honeybees in about 20 minutes.

They can be over 2 inches long, fly at upwards of 25 MPH, and travel up to 60 miles in a day. Oh, they have a stinger that is 1/4 inches long.

They warned us about these when I was with the Navy in Japan. Like most wasps, they won't mess with you if you leave them alone, but if you disturb their nest, it's recommended you roll into the fetal position, put your head between your legs and KISS YOUR ASS GOODBYE!

Unless you can't run faster than 25MPH, I'd give these things a wide berth.

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