131 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

This sounds NASTY.  If you're in the Pacific NW keep an eye out.

 

https://www.nytimes....washington.html

[TheMicroPlanet]

Good luck.

[Broncos]

Oh no... I want to see people being paid to kill/transfer the hives of those hornets somewhere else. Or just having vigilantes for killing hornets??

[RushmoreAnts]

The RIFAs of the bee world...........

[NickAnter]

More like the human foot of the bee world.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Wonder how they got here. I'm sure we can rule out careless people as a possibility... 

[NickAnter]

Yeah, they might be in the hospital if so.

[ponerinecat]

don't kill me but mandarin hornets probably won't be too big of a deal imo.

[Temperateants]

Nature's way of curing the honey bee infestation.

[Manitobant]

I may be crazy, but it looks like it would be a fun species to keep. I know many people who keep wasps, even vespula

[NickAnter]

     I don't think this should be treated lightly. While honeybees are invasive, they provide jobs for about 125,000 people. And, they may kill people who are allergic. Its not like they are non-aggressive. If that were the case, they would not be a problem. If they are allowed to get a foothold, it could potentially ruin the lives of many people, and people would be less likely to go on outdoors activities, reducing sales in outdoor industries.This would result in a further loss in jobs. The also will not stop at invasives. I would almost be willing to bet they would go for natives as well.

that's just my two cents though. And I'm naturally biased against Vespines. But, I still don't think it is just something to shrug off. Would you want to go outside and be met with a hornet that will leave you in severe pain for hours?

[RushmoreAnts]

There are few invasives that don’t harm the environment (and human society) in some way, and this species probably isn’t one of them.

[Serafine]

Considering they specialize in wiping out bee hives they might be more of a problem for the agricultural industry than the broad environment (solitary bees might even benefit), although they're pretty sure to do some damage there as well. I think we also haven't seen how well they do against african(ized) bees, so if they manage to spread further south this is going to be very interesting.

[Nathant2131]

Haven’t Asian Giant Hornets been in the US for a while now? Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t know why this is just now becoming news.

[ForestDragon]

this is not good, I'm glad that people are taking action to stop/prevent the spread

[RushmoreAnts]

If they can't survive below 0 degrees F, I think I'm good. 

[BugFinder]

Wonder how they got here. I'm sure we can rule out careless people as a possibility... 

probably on ships.  That's usually how it happens.   It's how all our commensal rats, and argentine ants arrived.

[RushmoreAnts]

Don't forget RIFAs........ and probably Tetramorium too.

[BugFinder]

don't kill me but mandarin hornets probably won't be too big of a deal imo.

why do you say that?

[ponerinecat]

 

don't kill me but mandarin hornets probably won't be too big of a deal imo.

why do you say that?

 

I truly can't see any negative effects besides potential harm to beekeepers, and even then the predation on honeybees is a boon to native bees. Just as an example, bumblebee populations are rapidly dying out due to a number of reasons, one of those being wild honeybees. Stings are simply painful, nests are easy to destroy, death from a sting is rare and honestly just as reasonable and rare as death from a bee sting. While it certainly is somewhat harmful to local businesses and can cause some discomfort to the people I just see them as a competitor to the invasive honeybees.