Giant hornets <shudder>

[Jen5200]

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!

 

[noodles123]

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

 

[Jen5200]

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.

 

[texsize]

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.

 

[Laurasea]

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

 

[SailBoat]

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...

 

[texsize]

I just found this in my playlist.

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

 

[Jen5200]

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