Tracking the Asian Giant 'Murder' Hornet: A Deadly Pest Has Reached North America

[kenmbz]

So I already have Japanese Stilt Grass, Emerald Ash Borer and Lantern fly. Now giant hornets. So much for global trade.

 

[TnAndy]

just the fact they kill thousands of honey bees is enough to justify killing them!. add in the sting, which can penetrate a beekeepers suit, with a sting that feels like hot steel in your body, and they need to all die!.. Thank You ASIA!..

We're still thanking Asia for the blight that killed off our chestnut trees in the last century, and for the Asian beetle (often mistaken for the Lady Bug, which it is NOT) that invades our windows every fall/winter.

Side note: We have a hornet here call the "Japanese Hornet".....about twice the size of the baldface black/white normal hornets. Looks like a yellow jacket on steroids. Turn an outside light on at night, and they are very attracted to it, making them easy targets for a fly swatter. Don't see many of them, never seen a nest, so can't say where they build (ground/limbs), but they are pretty aggressive.

 

[Jstpssng]

There have been a lot of things brought from other countries over the years; earthworms, apple trees, hogs, cattle. Horses were extinct for thousands of years before the Europeans brought them across again.

 

[kenmbz]

Yes, mute swans etc. People have been bringing items over, some on purpose, some not for as long as we have been moving around. It just seems that some of the latest ones should have been easy to stop, but got out of hand quick. Lost over a dozen Ash trees, some over 80 feet tall.
Just spent another weekend cleaning up.
Seems like the border for invasive species has never been very good.

 

[Hay Dude]

So I already have Japanese Stilt Grass, Emerald Ash Borer and Lantern fly. Now giant hornets. So much for global trade.

Amen, the stuff is miserable around edges of farm fields.

 

[TnAndy]

There have been a lot of things brought from other countries over the years; earthworms, apple trees, hogs, cattle. Horses were extinct for thousands of years before the Europeans brought them across again.

All quite true....and the whole list is handy.

Asian beetles I'd like to return to sender. Doesn't seem like there should be single aphid in 100 miles of here, yet there are.

 

[DarkBlack]

So I already have Japanese Stilt Grass, Emerald Ash Borer and Lantern fly. Now giant hornets. So much for global trade.

What, no Japanese beetle?
Want some? I got too much.

 

[TnAndy]

What, no Japanese beetle?
Want some? I got too much.

We used to have a LOT of 'em. Spread milky spore out years ago, and it has slowly decimated them to a reasonable level.

 

[TnAndy]

Wife went out on the deck a few minutes ago and knocked one of what we call "Japanese Hornets" down and so here is a photo of what they look like:

Kinda dragonfly like wings:

Face that would stop a clock, huge mandibles !

Not the same coloring or size as the 'murder hornet', but not something I want to run into a LOT. Never seen any sign of them around my bee hives, so I guess they are not a threat to them ? (fingers crossed)

 

[bnold]

Fire Ants... Worst import ever!