Murder Hornets

[-DLC-]

They found a nest with 200 queens just across the border in Blaine, WA.  As we've seen on the news recently, a couple have been seen in Abbotsford as well so this is slightly terrifying.  They can wipe bees out at an alarming rate and if the bees go we're all in trouble.  2020's been quite a year, hasn't it?  My hat's off to those who track down these vile creatures and get rid of them.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/11/us/asian-giant-murder-hornet-nest-queens-scn-trnd/index.html

Quote

That 'murder hornet' nest scientists found and destroyed had nearly 200 queens. They say they got there 'just in the nick of time'

By Allen Kim, CNN

 

Updated 5:59 PM ET, Wed November 11, 2020

 

Washington State Department of Agriculture workers eradicated an Asian giant hornet nest near Blaine and scientists believe there are other nests in the area.

(CNN)It turns out there were a lot more queens in the first-ever giant Asian "murder hornet" nest found in the US than what they initially discovered.

Researchers approximate nearly 200 queens were produced from that single nest, which is a significant uptick over the two queens they originally found.

Entomologists from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) eradicated and cleared out the nest found inside of the cavity of a tree near Blaine, Washington on October 24.

The researchers were able to vacuum out 85 hornets from the nest, most of which were workers with only two queens being among those counted.

 

 

 

Scientists captured 2 'murder hornet' queens in Washington State

However, after opening up the tree on October 29, they discovered a lot more inside. Scientists counted 76 emerged queens -- all but one are likely new virgin queens -- and the entomologists believe that based on size, 108 capped cells with pupae are likely queens as well. Three queens were also captured nearby in a bucket of water, the researchers said.

Each of those queens could have potentially spawned a new nest had they escaped, and it's unclear if any other queens managed to get away.

"There's no doubt that had we not intervened and destroyed this nest, we would be starting with that number of 200 as a possibility," entomologist Sven-Erik Spichiger said during a video conference. "It really seems like we got there just in the nick of time."

Spichiger said that nests can grow large enough to hold nearly 4,000 cells, so the nest found in Washington was relatively small by comparison.

There were approximately 776 cells inside, 6 combs -- structures that hold the hornet larvae as they develop -- 6 unhatched eggs, 190 total larvae, 112 workers, 9 drones, 108 capped cells with pupae and 76 queens.

 

'Murder hornet' nest found in Washington believed to be first in the US

The researchers believe that there are additional nests in the region. The WDSA will continue tracking and trapping Asian giant hornets for three years to ensure the area is free from the hornets.

The Asian giant hornet nest was originally discovered on October 22 in a tree cavity near Blaine. Using a new type of trap, WSDA researchers tagged several captured hornets with radio trackers, which they used to lead them to the nest.

Asian giant hornets typically nest in the ground but can occasionally be found nesting in dead trees.

First discovered in Washington state in December 2019, Asian giant hornets are an invasive species not native to the US. They are the world's largest hornet, and they prey on honey bees and other insects. A small group of Asian giant hornets is capable of killing an entire honey bee hive in a few hours, the WDSA said.

And honey bees are not the only reason these creatures are nicknamed "murder hornets." Multiple stings from Asian giant hornets can kill a human, according to experts at Washington State University.

 

[aGENT]

I can't even...

[Ghostsof1915]

Next week.

Godzilla stomps through town....

[goalie13]

While I appreciate what they are trying to do, I can't help but think that they are doomed to failure.  How can they possibly find and eradicate every single nest?

 

Still, good luck to them in their mission.

[bishopshodan]

It's a nasty war.

 

Decapitation vs Cooking.

The poor honey bees get rocked, I read one of these Murder Hornets can lop off a bee's head every 14 secs...but the Honey Bee's team defence effort is wild.

 

When a hornet enters the hive of Japanese honeybees, researchers have witnessed how hundreds of bees can respond by forming a ball around a hornet. While the bees face an immense disadvantage in both size and strength, the bees working in unison can vibrate to produce heat, raising the temperature in the formation, like a tiny oven, to over 115 degrees. Bees can survive the high temperature, but the hornet cannot, and after up to an hour of cooking, the hornet dies.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/murder-hornets-asian-giant-hornet-bees.html

Edited November 12, 2020 by bishopshodan

[Lancaster]

This is when they encounter bees without any counters....

 

[Shift-4]

[Squamfan]

Send in Lui Erikkson to fight them. The play dies when the puck hits his stick so if these hit his stick they will also die

[Ronaldoescobar]

12 minutes ago, Squamfan said:

Send in Lui Erikkson to fight them. The play dies when the puck hits his stick so if these hit his stick they will also die

But LE would need to be on the hornets team imo ;P

[kingofsurrey]

Honey bees are already under attack here in BC...    they really don't need Murder Hornets also attacking them..

 

Bees and other pollinators are declining in abundance in many parts of the world largely due to intensive farming practices, mono-cropping, excessive use of agricultural chemicals and higher temperatures associated with climate change, affecting not only crop yields but also nutrition.May 20, 2019

 

Last year, 40% of honey-bee colonies in the US died. ... But the honey bee is just one of many insects in decline — 40% of the world's insect species are in decline, according to a February 2019 study. The die-offs are happening primarily because insects are losing their habitats to farming and urbanization.Jun 21, 2019

Edited November 12, 2020 by kingofsurrey

[Nucker 67]

Not sure they're even doing this now, are there protected greenhouses for honey bees? There should be, the bees are dying off and that would be devastating.  

[Junkyard Dog]

We need Dexter to come back pronto. Need someone who specializes in murdering murderers.

[buddhahoodlum]

2 hours ago, Squamfan said:

Send in Lui Erikkson to fight them. The play dies when the puck hits his stick so if these hit his stick they will also die

I sense a trade is in the works: 

Quote

 

 

[Coconuts]

2 hours ago, kingofsurrey said:

Honey bees are already under attack here in BC...    they really don't need Murder Hornets also attacking them..

 

Bees and other pollinators are declining in abundance in many parts of the world largely due to intensive farming practices, mono-cropping, excessive use of agricultural chemicals and higher temperatures associated with climate change, affecting not only crop yields but also nutrition.May 20, 2019

 

Last year, 40% of honey-bee colonies in the US died. ... But the honey bee is just one of many insects in decline — 40% of the world's insect species are in decline, according to a February 2019 study. The die-offs are happening primarily because insects are losing their habitats to farming and urbanization.Jun 21, 2019

It's incredible how much we've managed to &^@# up the planet within the last century.. 

[Gnarcore]

4 hours ago, bishopshodan said:

It's a nasty war.

 

Decapitation vs Cooking.

The poor honey bees get rocked, I read one of these Murder Hornets can lop off a bee's head every 14 secs...but the Honey Bee's team defence effort is wild.

 

When a hornet enters the hive of Japanese honeybees, researchers have witnessed how hundreds of bees can respond by forming a ball around a hornet. While the bees face an immense disadvantage in both size and strength, the bees working in unison can vibrate to produce heat, raising the temperature in the formation, like a tiny oven, to over 115 degrees. Bees can survive the high temperature, but the hornet cannot, and after up to an hour of cooking, the hornet dies.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/murder-hornets-asian-giant-hornet-bees.html

Sadly our bees don't know this defense mechanism and will just die.  

[thedestroyerofworlds]

And yet we have people actively fighting against environmental regulation because...PROFIT. 

 

 

 

Nothing bad will happen.  /s

[Ghostsof1915]

33 minutes ago, thedestroyerofworlds said:

And yet we have people actively fighting against environmental regulation because...PROFIT. 

 

 

 

Nothing bad will happen.  /s

But there's gold in them thar honey! 

 

[Ballisticsports.]

6 hours ago, goalie13 said:

While I appreciate what they are trying to do, I can't help but think that they are doomed to failure.  How can they possibly find and eradicate every single nest?

 

Still, good luck to them in their mission.

I think Trump said inject a queen with a virus and let them take care of themselves, (or bleach I am so confused)

 

[Nuxfanabroad]

Been dealing with these nasty buggers for 2 decades, whenever camping/hiking. Had one buzz my ear the other day(I was lighting a mosquito coil)..& I thought..."Hmm, why is there a F***ing helicopter flying overhead?...Eegads!! OMG sparrow BEEEE!..(mad dash)

[Nuxfanabroad]

2 hours ago, Coconuts said:

It's incredible how much we've managed to &^@# up the planet within the last century.. 

After parasites devour the host,..move on to the hostess?(Ma Nature ain't amused)