In November of 2020 I received an excited call from a friend in Blaine, Washington. This sleepy little burg on the western boarder between the United States and Canada had the first sighting and elimination of an Asian Giant Killer Hornet nest. This important discovery site was just a few minutes from where I use to live and own Cottage by the Bay Bed and Breakfast.
Over 98 worker hornets were destroyed along with their nest in an old tree stump at a Blaine residence. Two queens were found alive and saved. The ramification of this discovery is huge. The honeybee population and the pollination they provide in Washington state will be decimated if this pest is not stopped from multiplying. It takes only 3 or 4 of these killer hornets within a few hours to ravage an entire honey bee hive. (1)
The Asian Giant Killer Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia) grows between 1.5 to 2 inches in length, with large teeth and strong mandibles that viciously decapitates their prey, primarily honey bees. (1) Once they conquer the hive, they take over and use any captured brood to care for their young using the thoraxes from the decapitated heads for food. A Killer Hornet queen broaches an incredible wingspan of about 3″, her average length is over 2 inches and her unbelievable stinger can reach up to .25 inch in length. (3)
These vicious marauders do attack other insects but not entire populations of them. While the Giant Asian Hornets are not attracted to humans they can be provoked and are blamed for over 40 deaths in Asia from the poison emitted when stung repeatedly. (1) Their stingers are smaller than the honey bee but the venom is more toxic. “Jun-ichi Takahashi, a researcher at Kyoto Sangyo University in Japan, said the species had earned the “murder hornet” nickname there because its aggressive group attacks can expose victims to doses of toxic venom equivalent to that of a venomous snake; a series of stings can be fatal.” (3)
Found primarily in China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and other eastern Asian countries, the killer hornets have never made the North American continent home until their recent capture in Washington state. The habitat preference of these hornets is the lowland forests, mountains and foothills of Asia.
But wait, do I hear the forests in Canada and Washington calling ? Let’s hope not. Let’s pray not. The honeybee is “the single most important pollinator contributing to a healthy global food supply”. (2) Without this marvelous little insect, food production would take a devastating twist of fate.
Resources
(1) https://agr.wa.gov/hornets
(2)https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/priorityspecies/asian-giant-hornet/
(3) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/us/asian-giant-hornet-washington.html
(5) Google images of Giant Killer Hornet
(6) You tube video Hornets from Hell/National Geographic
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