On top of it all we now have Murder Hornets

VickiP

Since I have allergies to flying insect stings this little news article caught my attention. https://www.prevention.com/health/a32353458/asian-giant-murder-hornet-north-america/

Oh brother!

Linda Bittle

Well, of course we do. Good grief, that's scary!

EarlKelly

Last heard they were in the state of Washington. Saw them on a nat geo video, they decapitate honeybees. Heard they were trying to eradicate them before they get a foothold in this country. Something else to have to watch out for.

judsoncarroll4

Well "shut my mouth I'm headin' South"... or as far away from those things as I can get!

csinclair461

Maybe our honeybees could learn the trick the Japanese honeybees learned: https://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-giant-hornet-cooked-by-honeybees-2014-10.

VickiP

One commenter I read asked why we couldn't start off with Assault and Battery Hornets first, then work our way up. LOL

silvertipgrizz

@VickiP I didn't know you had already posted an article on these things. I saw it yesterday and it is truely frightening what they are capable of and that somehow??? they have found their way into our country...

silvertipgrizz

@VickiP Make sure you have 2 epi pens just in case and carry them with you at all times

VickiP

@silvertipgrizz I haven't ever carried an Epi pen, I probably should but it has been several years since I had a severe reaction. That one nearly did me in but I didn't have insurance so never considered an Epi pen. I do carry Benadryl with me and the Dr who treated me said any time I get stung to take two, wait fifteen minutes and take two more. If the symptoms don't subside get to the nearest ER. Problem was we weren't sure what stung me, I was at the creek with my kids and something got me, by the time I got home I swollen up with giant hives and was virtually incoherent, we got a friend to take me to my Drs house. We lived about thirty miles from the hospital so when we called him he had her bring me to him. He packed me in ice, administered adrenaline twice, finally I was able to go home. Very scary. I have been stung a time or two since but only a mild reaction so I still don't know what it was. Needless to say if it buzzes and flys I try to keep away.

LaurieLovesLearning

I wonder if it will make it's way east. Hopefully not. It is disturbing that it nests in the ground. That makes it harder to avoid.

dianne.misspooz

Oh goodness! If it's not one thing, it's another. I was seriously thinking of investing in raising bees. I might have to rethink this until this is under control.

LaurieLovesLearning

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/859583#Comment_859583

If you still want to try bees with less investment (in case of losses due to this hornet), try building a simple Kenyan top bar hive and see if you can capture a honeybee swarm.

Torey

It was just on the news here that these beasties have been spotted in BC (Vancouver area), as well as Washington. I'm hoping our colder winters further north will deter them. If they are as large as reported they should be easy to spot coming! But having something that large hit you at flying speed is going to hurt, even if it doesn't sting.

shllnzl

Those hornets killed 50 Japanese people last year.

VickiP

Here is a picture of them. I did read that these are likely to be queens still, I don't think I am looking forward to encountering one. https://www.technationnews.com/news/world/killer-hornets-alert-america/

Melinda

great. one more thing thing bees need to worry about.

VickiP

@Melinda everything I have read indicates they are just getting started here, there is still hope they can be stopped. But definitely something to be aware of.

shllnzl

Good news! There is a video on the web (I chose not to view it) that shows a praying mantis overwhelming and eating one of the Murder Hornets. Let us hope our native predators can keep these invaders in check.

VickiP

That would be quite a meal for a Mantis! I saw the same video, I also chose not to view it but was happy to see their are some native predators that might be helpful.

LaurieLovesLearning

I received this in my email today that the news about this hornet is more hype than anything at this point.

I really found the size comparison diagram interesting.

https://backyardbeekeeping.iamcountryside.com/health-pests/invasion-of-the-asian-giant-hornet/

Megan Venturella

I thought it was a joke! lol