As if hornets weren’t scary enough on their own, the people of Washington State will now need to be on the lookout for giant Asian hornets, which are not insects to mess with!
Giant Asian hornets can be a devastating species.
Vespa velutina, also known as the Asian hornet, are an invasive species, native to — yes, you guessed it — Asia. They are highly effective predators and can cause devastating effects to other insect species when they invade areas that they are not native to, according to the British Beekeepers Association .
Washington State is the most recent place for the species to invade.
One resident of Blaine, which resides on the US-Canada border, reported finding a 2-inch hornet, which was identified as an Asian hornet by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
The pest has never been identified in Washington before; and, although the specimen that the resident found was dead, they claimed that they had also seen a live one buzzing around a bird feeder.
The WSDA is concerned about the effect that the hornets may have on honey bee populations.
Asian giant hornets can be devastating to honey bee populations, as they are “five times the size and 20 times the weight of a honey bee, a single hornet can kill as many as 40 honey bees per minute using its large mandibles” according to PestTracker .
Furthermore, by devastating “honey bees and other beneficial species, [Asian giant hornets] can cause significant losses to bee colonies, other native species, and potentially ecosystems.”
The WSDA has asked people to be on the lookout for the invasive pest.
While the species are not usually aggressive towards humans (thank goodness) they can pack a seriously powerful sting if they are provoked, and can cause a potentially fatal allergic reaction in some people.
The main reason for the WSDA to ask people to be on the lookout is to preserve the honey bee populations in the area.
These hornets are normally dormant in the winter months.
Not only has the Asian hornet never been seen in Washington before, but it is exceptionally strange that the species should be active in December as they are usually only active around the months of July to October.
During the rest of the year, the species typically nests underground.
Experts are still unsure how the hornets may have arrived in Washington.
There is speculation that the species may have migrated to the area from Canada. Chris McGann, spokesperson of the department, told CNN that a colony of giant Asian hornets had been discovered and promptly destroyed in British Columbia back in August.
However, there has been no definitive explanation yet as to why the species has emerged in the winter months.
Honey bees do have one or two ways to defend themselves.
While the hornets are capable of popping hundreds of honey bees heads with their sizeable mandibles, honey bees do have one ingenious, and quite savage defence plan.
When under attack, hundreds of honey bees will often swarm one hornet and encase it. However, they do not sting the hornet, instead, they all begin to violently vibrate, which creates so much heat that it actually cooks the hornet alive!
But what should you do if you encounter one of these beasts?
If you happen to get stung, then the Department of Health advises, “washing the site thoroughly with soap and water and applying ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling,” and if symptoms persist or you have been stung multiple times, then you may need to visit the hospital.
However, if you disturb a nest by accident, then your only option to avoid getting stung may seem even more terrifying.
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If you disturb a nest, then your best option may be to remain perfectly still.
Doctor Stephen Martin, an entomologist at the University of Salford, once accidentally disturbed an Asian hornet nest while observing it with a colleague. Martin explained that while his colleague was repeatedly stung, Martin escaped unscathed by remaining perfectly still:
“You close your eyes, you close your mouth, you grit your teeth because it’s quite frightening. The other guy just couldn’t cope and he ran away, and he got stung several times. I was fine,” Martin told Wired .
If the hornets do not see you as a predator, then they will leave you alone. Easier said than done in theory though I imagine!
If you see one of these insects, you should report it to your local agricultural governing body.
In 2020, the WSDA will be setting up traps to eradicate this pest; however, Chris McGann went on to explain that, “While this is an intimidatingly large insect — an invasive species we want to keep out of our state — it is not a cause for panic”.
Well, I’m fairly certain if I saw something as big and terrifying as one of those Asian hornets, panicking would be an understatement for my reaction!
h/t: CNN
