Giant hornets <shudder>

2020 continues to add “interesting” things to our lives. They found the first actual nest of Asian giant hornets in the US this week. I care a lot about this as I live within a few miles of where this nest was found. There have been additional hornets trapped in locations that appear to indicate that this is not the only nest we have here. I have had giant hornet traps up on our property since July, and apparently we’ll keep them up for a bit longer. Thankfully I’ve not trapped one yet - I’m not generally afraid of bugs - but these things make me want to run away squealing.

https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=31875

They plan to try to eradicate this nest tomorrow morning. I have nothing but admiration for the brave souls that are tackling this....there is not enough money in the world to convince me to do that job!

If it helps, they don't normally kill people (I mean, compared to covid, these guys are like 10 people a year)-- they are creepy, but mostly because they ruin honeybee hives (and that does make an impact).

I had ground hornets in my pumpkin patch (and they weren't this type....) but they also have killed people (but they weren't bad to me)...never buzzed me like they did when I was a kid...they just hung out around the hole and bopped around among flowers etc and we left each other alone (even when I was right by their burrow, they were amazingly okay--and no, they were not cicada killers-- a dif type of insect that looks like a hornet and is NOT). It is odd....when I was a kid, I remember getting dive-bombed by hornets (so territorial), but this new nest was burrowed where I had been first and none of them ever even attempted to mess with me. It's all very fascinating! I spent SO much time right by it, moving things etc..I saw the hornets, but they were docile. I have no idea why (I didn't use chemicals in my garden or anything). I wonder if they knew I was there first???! Who knows...It's all odd to me, but I did spend so much time in the garden that certain rabbits act like I am their owner lol...maybe hornets are secretly sentimental lol

I’m generally a live an let live type of person - native hornets are fine by me, and I usually don’t take down their nests unless they are seriously invading my space (like attached to my door or something). It’s cool that yours were nice and docile - most of ours are as well

These guys however.....YUCK! I have my fingers crossed that they get all the nests killed off. I’d like to get beehives, but not going to invest until we know more. These hornets killed off 6 hives down the road last winter.

I heard about the hornets.

I saw a video of a crazy dude that went around the world intentionally getting stung by the most painful stinging insects including bullet ants and that monster hornet.

I have 3 phobias and the #1 is bees (anything that flys and stings is a bee to me).

I hope they can put a lid on this and not let it explode like fire ants and killer bees.

Giant hornets, terrible, the threat to honeybees, a whole colonies in hours, just no!

How about developing a use for them, like home security? One only needs to add a sign to your home: Warning, this Home Protected by: Asian Giant Hornets!

I saw the first announcement back this Spring and was wondering when and where a nest would be found. Yup, not going to be good news for our already endangered Honey Bees...

I just found this in my playlist.

[ame]https://youtu.be/LdP_OxZojqc[/ame]

I’m excited that they were successful with this one - I just hope they find any others that are hiding out here.