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 ...
Be SURE to follow the mounting instructions EXACTLY as written!!
An acquaintance of mine bought a couple of deer whistles last fall to place on his pickup. He paid no heed to the instructions as he installed them on his truck in Gander Mountain’s parking lot.
On his drive back home; he hit two deer in separate accidents!!
The police investigated and found the whistles were mounted...
...BACKWARD!
I’ve always thought the Asians had very short; ahem; stingers.
“They’ve been here for a very, long time. As a beekeeper I can only hope they never make their way up to Virginia.”
Thank you for the information.
I certainly hope your bees stay safe from that threat as well. And maybe you’ll have a nice cold winter. :) (Unless that’s bad for your bees?)
I’m very much relieved the name of that jpg is “toy-giant-hornet”...
When I was a kid the old man across the street had several hives in his back yard. I’d spend hours over there helping him.
Thank you both for the information. I’m glad I’m both from Chicago and currently living in Canada. I hate bees! :)
Although I realize that honeybees are vital to food production; they are the good guys of the bee world. :)
I’m sure God had some sort of purpose for wasps and hornets. Though for the life of me, I don’t know what it is. It’s really human beings tinkering with genetics that’s the problem. Although, yes it does help feed more people.
*sigh* There’s always an answer for everything, right? That’s what my mother would say when I talked back to her.
Now I’m rambling. Sorry!
Not only are you rambling but your rambling is from ignorance.
The topic is hornets and hornets are not bees
Eh, the bees take care of themselves as long as they have enough honey stores to make it through. They ball up in a cluster with the queen in the middle and keep warm. Thanks for your well wishes. :)
Yup. Same way I got hooked as a kid in the 70’s.
Thanks! I'll remember that.
Love it!
That is only a 1/4th scale of the real thing.
Best to carry a tennis racket at all times then....
murder hornet
“Watching with friends back in the day, it was must see tv.”
It’ll behoove ya to take care of your uvula!
I’ll never forget when me and the little girl next were 5 years old, playing doctor, when she whispered to me, “You wanna see my uvula?”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.