Page 43 - April-May 2020 Neat

Asian Murder Hornets Found in B.C. 43

'Murder hornet' risk and

name overblown, says
B.C.'s top bee expert

by Yvette Brend

A large invasive hornet is waking up for spring,
and experts say a few of the bee-eating predators
may soon be buzzing around B.C.

Last fall, a beekeeper in the northwest corner of
Washington state found hives decimated by
what American media is dubbing the murder
hornet.

But B.C. bee experts, while concerned, don't
expect swarms of Asian giant hornets this
summer and say the threat is minimal and no
reason to stay inside.

Fierce but few

In August of 2019, the first ever hive of these
hornets, which are actually named Vespa
mandarinia, turned up in Nanaimo. In
September, the nest was tracked to a spot in the
ground in the Robin's Park area, and beekeepers
used dry ice to clear it out and collect specimens
to study.

The world's biggest hornet decapitates bees with
jagged mandibles and devours them, leaving a
pile of bodies. Worse yet, the hornet's powerful
venom is responsible for dozens of human
deaths in Asia every year.
Gail Wallin is executive director of the Invasive Stop calling it a murder hornet, says
Despite this, B.C.'s top bee experts say the
Species Council of B.C. She said new anecdotal bee expert
nickname is sensationalistic, unless perhaps you
reports of the hornets south of the border are a
are a bee.
concern.
There is a risk if a person is allergic, but the
"It's a very formidable character. They are very venom is not the same as a bee's venom.
"If they've over-wintered, then it's important that
fierce but very few. They are not overrunning
those nests be eradicated right away. These
the landscape out here. That is simply not going Despite this, van Westendorp says that dubbing
hornets certainly are a threat to the bee
to happen," said provincial apiculturist Paul van it the murder hornet is sensationalizing — unless
population," she said.
Westendorp. you are a bee.
Honeybees, the rusty-patched bumble bee and
He doesn't advocate panic and suggests people "Well, anybody who is naming it the "murder
more than 800 other wild bee species are listed
leave the hornets alone. hornet," I mean for heaven sakes," he said.
as endangered in Canada.

"These hornets are not interested in us, but they But he is asking people, especially bee keepers,
The hornet's sting has proven fatal in rare cases.
can cause quite a bit of problems if their nests to be vigilant about odd-looking insects and
are disturbed," he said. hornets that may not be that large this time of
"They are a health concern because they have a
year.
powerful sting ... and they are not something
The Nanaimo nest of about 200 hornets was
you'd want to be bitten by more than once or
destroyed. A single hornet showed up in White He says people who find unusual insects can
twice," said Wallin.
Rock last November. A few weeks later, two report them and send a photograph, even though
individual hornets were found in Blaine, Wash. he laughs at some of the creatures he's seen from
In Asia, a few dozens deaths each year are
people fearing invasive intruders — including at
attributed to the hornet, most often if a nest is
"That strongly suggested there was a nest," said one point, a harmless stink bug.
disturbed, said van Westerndorp.
van Westendorp.
He urges people not to destroy the body of the
If a nest is disturbed, a colony will initially send
He said scientists are working hard to make sure insect, if possible, as it can reveal a lot, if he gets
out one hornet, then more, but only if the
the hornet — or its sister species, an impressive it intact.
intruder remains there. A giant Asian hornet can
six-centimetre queen that showed up in a North
sting repeatedly and the insect's venom is nasty.
Vancouver office last May — do not establish in He says any sighting of an Asian giant hornet
It can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
B.C. should be reported []
In rare cases, the sting wound can become The ‘X’ Zone Radio/TV Show
The hornets are considered apex predators, but
necrotic. People who have been stung liken the
their population is sparse, and scientists say with Rob McConnell
pain to a red hot pushpin being stabbed into their
none are alive in B.C. that we know of right www.xzoneradiotv.com
flesh, from the up-to-10 millimetre stinger.
now. on www.XZBN.net