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‘Murder hornets’ trapped in US for first time as officials race to eradicate colonies before breeding season
Independent News via Yahoo ^ | Aug 2. 2020 | Harry Cockburn

Posted on 08/02/2020 7:41:58 PM PDT by 11th_VA

As the US grapples with the world's worst coronavirus outbreak, a new threat is emerging as Asian giant hornets – known as “murder hornets” due to their lethal sting to humans – are gaining a foothold in the country.

After they were first found in Washington State in May this year, the 2-inch (5cm)-long hornets have now been trapped for the first time – giving officials an indication – firstly that their traps work, and secondly of where nests could be situated.

Now authorities in Washington State have until mid-September to try and eradicate the invasive species before the breeding season begins.

Multiple stings are deadly to humans and in Asia the hornets are estimated to kill 50 people a year.

During the hornet’s “slaughter phase” they kill bees, feeding the bodies to their young.

Honey bee populations in the US have declined by 60 per cent since the mid 20th century, largely due to habitat loss and use of pesticides, according to Greenpeace USA...

WSDA said its next steps are to search for nests using infrared cameras and place additional traps in order to catch live Asian giant hornet specimens.

Special traps intended to trap hornets but keep them alive will be used. If they catch live hornets, the department will attempt to tag and track them back to their colony. Once located, the agency will eradicate the colony.

Officials said they hope to find and destroy the nest by mid-September before the colony would begin creating new reproducing queens and drones.

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: gianthornets; hornets; killerwasps; murderhornets
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To: 11th_VA

Reminds me of an old Johnny Carson monolog.
“They can find 2 fruit flies but can’t seem to find 100k illegals”


41 posted on 08/02/2020 9:05:12 PM PDT by Zathras
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To: KarlInOhio

I’ve taken a 12 gauge to a couple of nests. One in a tree, the other in the ground. Seemed to work just fine.


42 posted on 08/02/2020 9:11:15 PM PDT by gundog ( Hail to the Chief, bitches!)
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To: 11th_VA

43 posted on 08/02/2020 9:14:17 PM PDT by Blurb2350
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To: proud American in Canada

Is this a new type of “honey trap”? Both the Democrat Party and KGB/SVR are great at that.


44 posted on 08/02/2020 9:20:37 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: EagleUSA

Fauci’s new quote re bees is “To bee or not to bee on the cover of Time as their man of the century”.


45 posted on 08/02/2020 9:22:39 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper

Man of the Century WHAT THE HELL has this man actually DONE EVER!! He is a DC bureaucrat that has NEVER in his career treated a patient OMG I can hardly stand this CRAP anymore!!


46 posted on 08/02/2020 9:25:38 PM PDT by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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To: 11th_VA

it’s the border wall that has trapped them- see? Tear down this wall!

liberals will yell=-


47 posted on 08/02/2020 9:26:14 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: 11th_VA

Maybe they’re breeding them in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Area Of Sabotage (CHAOS).


48 posted on 08/02/2020 9:48:58 PM PDT by Rainier1789 (My Constitution has a 2nd and 10th Amendment)
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To: Rainier1789

Does this mean that we are all going to die tonight ? ??


49 posted on 08/02/2020 9:52:48 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp???)
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To: KarlInOhio

If you wait until dusk you can get them all with no buzzing around and you get the satisfying plops as they fall to the ground. I got 35 yellow jackets at their nest outside my office window. I see it’s being recolonized. I’ll visit them soon


50 posted on 08/02/2020 10:02:36 PM PDT by j.havenfarm ( Beginning my 20th year on FR! 2,500+ replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: 11th_VA
Unlike my highly successful "Wasp Whistle" which rounded up and attracted wasps to fly into a bonfire and kill themselves I'm currently working on a "Hornet Horn."

The "Hornet Horn", which when blown forces "murder hornets" to fly directly into the path of oncoming 18 wheeler trucks on the interstate and kill themselves.

Soon as these are ready for TV ordering we'll be offering a SECOND "Wasp WHistle" or "Hornet Horn" FREE with your order... simply pay handling costs!

51 posted on 08/02/2020 10:04:11 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: steve86

I work in the forests of Washington quite often and perhaps every other day out in the field we scare up a ground nest of hornets. And perhaps 1/4 of those times a few stings but nothing to worry about. Just mark the area and stay clear by 6 feet or so.

I do admit I’m a bit concerned about ever coming across an Asian Hornet nest. One of the first articles I read showed a wasp nest up in a tree and I was relieved. But, come to find out that was just some stupid reporter - these guys build their nests in the ground.


52 posted on 08/02/2020 10:22:56 PM PDT by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful!)
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To: 11th_VA

“”During the hornet’s “slaughter phase” they kill bees, feeding the bodies to their young.

Honey bee populations in the US have declined by 60 per cent since the mid 20th century, largely due to habitat loss and use of pesticides, according to Greenpeace USA...””

If that’s a problem then just get more honey bee’s, they’re not native to the US anyway. We’ve got over 4,000 species of bee’s native to the US, the European Honey bee is not one of them.


53 posted on 08/03/2020 3:51:39 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
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To: 11th_VA
Coming to your neighborhood soon ...


54 posted on 08/03/2020 4:43:32 AM PDT by CapnJack
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To: 11th_VA

estimated to kill 50 people a year


Quick quarantine the west coast


55 posted on 08/03/2020 4:54:33 AM PDT by eartick (Stupidity is expecting the government that broke itself to go out and fix itself. Texan for TEXIT!)
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To: proud American in Canada

“I know. Whatever happened to those Africanized bees? I think they were found in the United States, as well.”

They’ve been here for a very, long time. As a beekeeper I can only hope they never make their way up to Virginia.


56 posted on 08/03/2020 4:59:17 AM PDT by sevinufnine
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To: Secret Agent Man

“These hornets have 1/4 inch long stingers “

These are Asian hornets. Don’t you mean 6mm stingers?


57 posted on 08/03/2020 5:01:03 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: Delta 21

“They’re insects. Its always breeding season.”

Wrong. Hornets, similar to honey bees, mate once in the spring and it lasts for the queen’s life. The hornets’ life is one year. Honey bee queen can live several, but still only mates once.


58 posted on 08/03/2020 5:02:49 AM PDT by sevinufnine
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To: Dusty Road

“Honey bee populations in the US have declined by 60 per cent since the mid 20th century, largely due to habitat loss and use of pesticides, according to Greenpeace USA...”

Also due to fewer and fewer beekeepers. I’m one of the last in my area and there used to be dozens :(


59 posted on 08/03/2020 5:05:39 AM PDT by sevinufnine
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To: Delta 21
Then it's no WONDER my wife keeps saying:

Don't bug me!

60 posted on 08/03/2020 5:07:28 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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