Invasive insects may pose a serious threat to honeybee populations
We’ve seen grade-B science fiction that features giant insects — usually Buick-sized behemoths that grow like mad after being exposed to an atomic blast. They descend upon an unsuspecting town, spreading havoc in their wake.
The reality is different, but there’s still some havoc, along with legitimate concern.
The giant Asian hornet (nicknamed “murder hornet”) has been in the news lately after some were spotted in the Pacific Northwest. They are the largest hornets on earth — more than 2 inches long — with monstrous stingers and a penchant for decapitating thousands upon thousands of honeybees. Just one giant Asian hornet attack on a honeybee colony can wipe it out in short order.
Up until now, we’ve enjoyed a great deal of distance between ourselves and this species. But their presence in Washington state and British Columbia has signaled the alarm bells all over the country. Scientists are telling us the invasive hornets will range from coast to coast before long, and there’s probably nothing that can arrest their spread.
Beekeepers are worried these insects could obliterate their carefully tended colonies. They’re also concerned about the stings, which tend to poke right through beekeeper suits. The stings are terribly painful, draw blood and can kill a person with sting allergies. In Japan, giant Asian hornets kill scores of people each year.
To make matters worse, a giant Asian hornet releases a pheromone after it stings, attracting others to the fray. All this said, they are not generally aggressive unless provoked. But they do live in the ground, which means people can stumble upon them by accident and suffer the consequences.
These hornets are carnivores and their main preoccupation is carrying off honeybee carcasses to feed their prolific young. Huge mandibles lop off the bees’ heads and crunch the bodies up into a meaty feast.
So, how long before they reach the other side of the country? Nobody really knows. It could take years. However, some experts suggest that hornets hitching a ride on an eastbound truck could start establishing themselves in a few days.
We’ll have to wait and see. If they do arrive here in Florida, you can be sure the team at Slug-A-Bug will be ready for them. Stay tuned.