'There must be a nest': B.C. expert says invasive giant hornets have a home on Vancouver Island

[Teh One Who Knocks]

News staff, CTV Vancouver Island


https://i.imgur.com/YZ0bMF0.jpg

The B.C. government's resident bee expert says three Asian giant hornets found in Nanaimo this summer likely aren’t the only ones on Vancouver Island.

The dangerous invasive species was discovered on the island in August but only revealed by the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday.

The revelation has local beekeepers worried as the world's largest hornets are known to feed on honeybees and can destroy entire colonies in a short time.

"The Asian giant hornets are the apex hunters of the insect world," provincial apiarist Paul Van Westendorp told CTV News.

"The fact that there are three proves there must be a nest."

The Asian hornets are thought to have likely travelled to the island in a shipping container. The four-centimetre-long hornets may pose a public health risk, said Van Westendorp.

"The amount of venom a person will get may well threaten their health, may well threaten their well-being," he said.

In 2013, 41 people in China were killed and 1,600 were injured when the predatory pests plagued the province of Shaanxi.

The hornets are native to East Asia, and the climate on Vancouver Island probably feels like home, Van Westendorp said.

"It can probably adapt to our environment very readily without any problems."

The apiarist said that hornets are currently entering their dormancy period, meaning they likely won't pose any threat until spring.

However, anyone who thinks they've spotted one of the invasive thumb-sized hornets is asked to report it immediately.

"Take a good photograph, in focus please, and just email it to us," Van Westendorp said. "Ninety-nine per cent of photographs can be identified right away."

Officials ask that people contact the Invasive Species Council of B.C. at 1-888-933-3722 or file a report through the government's "Report Invasives" mobile phone app found here. (https://bcinvasives.ca/report)

[Hal-9000]

I saw something on the news about this. These things are so badass they're threatening the bee populations.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I saw something on the news about this. These things are so badass they're threatening the bee populations.

I wonder how long before they'll be in Alberta? :-k

[Teh One Who Knocks]

https://i.imgur.com/6ZxPiiD.jpg

[Hal-9000]

I wonder how long before they'll be in Alberta? :-k

:hand: We've set up the Western Wall in hopes of keeping the Hipster Millennials from coming here. It should work for wasps as well.

[Hal-9000]

https://i.imgur.com/6ZxPiiD.jpg

Fuck the fucking fuck and fuck off with that shit Lance.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

:lol:

Getting stung by one of those must be like getting shot.

[Hal-9000]

:lol:

The person would drop on the spot because of the 30 kilograms of injected venom ffs

[Godfather]

I saw something on the news about this. These things are so badass they're threatening the bee populations.

Ya really wild. I read the Asian bees adapted to them. Their stings dont work so they surround these giant wasps and vibrate them to death with their heat. Really neat.

Our bees in BC haven't adapted. Hopefully this species can be destroyed here before they spread... Not just for the bees either. 10 stings could apparently kill a man. That's scary shit. I got swarmed as a teenager playing paintball once (I lay on a nest without realizing it). Was wearing coveralls but my scalp and hands must've been stung a dozen times. I wanted to be dead for about an hour, then the itching started :lol

[Hal-9000]

Ya really wild. I read the Asian bees adapted to them. Their stings dont work so they surround these giant wasps and vibrate them to death with their heat. Really neat.

Our bees in BC haven't adapted. Hopefully this species can be destroyed here before they spread... Not just for the bees either. 10 stings could apparently kill a man. That's scary shit. I got swarmed as a teenager playing paintball once (I lay on a nest without realizing it). Was wearing coveralls but my scalp and hands must've been stung a dozen times. I wanted to be dead for about an hour, then the itching started :lol

I've never been stung by a bee, wasp, hornet *knocks on wood*

Vibrates them to death with heat?? Keep that shit away from the government :lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I've never been stung by a bee, wasp, hornet *knocks on wood*

Vibrates them to death with heat?? Keep that shit away from the government :lol:

Really? Never?

[Hal-9000]

Really? Never?

My cousin and I used to catch wasps by hand (cup your hands together and into a jar) and nothing has ever stung me. I could be deathly allergic :lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

My cousin and I used to catch wasps by hand (cup your hands together and into a jar) and nothing has ever stung me. I could be deathly allergic :lol:

First time I was ever stung I was about 9 or 10, fucker got me on the face when I was outside playing with friends. Then I went probably 15 years before getting stung again. My mom asked me to help her change out some curtains and I had my hands up trying to disconnect the curtain rod from the wall when I felt a sharp pain on my hand. I thought it was from a nail or something sticking out so I try again and the same thing happened. I looked behind the curtains and up in the top corner of the window were 3 fucking yelowjackets. Fuckers got me twice before I got out the Raid. :lol: I took pleasure in watching them slowly die. :twisted: And that's the last time I've been stung.

[Hal-9000]

:lol: damn


Okay full disclosure I shriek like a girl at a Bieber concert when one gets near me.

In fact picture this : Three guys (adults) sitting in a car at a huge public park during the day. They may be casually smoking a joint in the car. Suddenly, three cars doors fire open and those same three people eject from the car within .02 seconds, while screaming loudly and waving their hands in the air likes there's a fire.

All of us had a lil phobia about getting stung and a bee may have flown in :lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

:lol:

[Hal-9000]

It's an odd thing and considering the amount of hikes I've been on, living in Banff ffs and the amount of time spent outdoors in general...I've been fortunate.

We were camping one night and kept seeing this huge creature fly past the fire. Most of us thought it was a bat. At one point it settles down on the ground in front of the fire and the first thing I thought of when I saw it was - Holy shit. That's the Queen Mother of all Bees with a wingspan of around 8 inches :shock:

Panic starts, hal grabs the badminton racket and when it moves I tee up and give it my best Serena Williams smash. Nailed it and when we checked the corpse it was a moth.

But it was the demigod of all moths...I swear that fucker weighed 2 pounds and was bigger than most birds :lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I fucking hate moths with a passions :lol: Always hiding in corners and stuff and then when you aren't expecting it just flying out in front of you. Worst encounter I had with a moth was I was driving to work one morning and of course it's dark. I'm on the highway doing about 75 and something hits me in the back of my head. :shock: I freaked the fuck out and am surprised I didn't roll my truck. :rofl: A moth had snuck it's way into my truck and decided while I'm driving was the best time to try and scare the shit outta me :lol:

[Hal-9000]

:lol:

Seconded on moths knowing you're skittish and then flying right the fuck at you!

The other night one was down here and I hadn't been outside for hours. I had to turn on all of the lights and then get the moth swatter...then chase it around for a bit before making a moth 3D picture on the wall.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I'm not a big fan of bugs and insects in general :lol:

[Hal-9000]

I'm not a big fan of bugs and insects in general :lol:

Me neither and it seems to get worse with age. I sometimes get small beetles down here and got to the point where I could squish them with my fingers, then into the toilet. Before that I was using too much toilet paper killing them.

I start to describe the bugs and my friend says - You mean those trilobites? :lol: Exactly what the little fuckers look like...

[Teh One Who Knocks]

The only bug I'll squish with my fingers are ants, anything more than that then it's time to get the paper towels or toilet paper :lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

One danger we did learn about growing up was watching out for wasps in your soda cans. If you're out at picnics or a BBQ or any place where you're outside and drinking soda, it attracts fucking bees and wasps and there was more than one instance of someone going to take a drink and getting a mouthful of wasp. You learn early on to keep your cans covered :lol:

[Hal-9000]

The only time I've been to the States with my parents. Summer of 1976, little hal is only 11 years old. The intent was to drive down to LA to perhaps see Disneyland.

Whole family, tent trailer and a car. We get to Portland Oregon and my Mom and sister get so sick with the flu we have to turn around and come back home.

On the way home Dad drives up through Montana and we stay at this ghetto campground with not much more than two smelly outhouses and parking spaces.

Young hal goes to use the outhouse, hears something buzzing and sure enough a bee or wasp or hornet comes flying up from Shit-hell below just grazing my nutsack on the way out, causing me to shriek like a girl at a Bieber concert (gee, I wonder where trauma and phobias begin?) and rocket out of the outhouse like my ass was on fire.

[Hal-9000]

I hated my sister and Mom for years after because they denied the trip to Disneyland for me :x

still haven't made it :|

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I hated my sister and Mom for years after because they denied the trip to Disneyland for me :x

still haven't made it :|

If it will bring you any solace, Disneyland is way overrated. Disney World is the only place to go.

[Hal-9000]

*sings*

It's a small world after all, it's a small worl....

NO IT'S NOT! DISNEYLAND may as well be on the fucking moon when you have no money fss! :x


thanks, I feel better now :)

[Hal-9000]

Knowing my luck the day I make it to Disneyland The Pirates of the Caribbean ride will kill someone in a freak accident or Space Mountain will collapse :|

[fricnjay]

Kill it Kill it Fire!!!!

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Knowing my luck the day I make it to Disneyland The Pirates of the Caribbean ride will kill someone in a freak accident or Space Mountain will collapse :|

I went to Disney World once....and I was too young to go on Space Mountain alone and no one would go on with me :|

[Hal-9000]

I went to Disney World once....and I was too young to go on Space Mountain alone and no one would go on with me :|

Aww come over here :hug:


At least you were there and able to go on a myriad of other rides ffs :beatdown: :slap: :x

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I was trying to commiserate [-(

[Hal-9000]

Just thought of a new Disney Ride....The Smollett!

You walk down a dark hallway and then two white people in masks and Maga hats attack you with fists, throw bleach on you and then put a noose around your neck.

Except really it's all a ruse. The people in masks aren't really white, they hit you lightly with gloves full of feathers, the bleach is water in squirtguns and the noose is a bolero tie that says - Thanks for coming to Disneyland! :)

[Hal-9000]

I was trying to commiserate [-(

Like a lottery winner commiserating with a homeless person by saying - Hey, I only had one meal yesterday too! (In Paris, after flying there on your private jet :x)

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Like a lottery winner commiserating with a homeless person by saying - Hey, I only had one meal yesterday too! (In Paris, after flying there on your private jet :x)

:lol:

[lost in melb.]

Just thought of a new Disney Ride....The Smollett!

You walk down a dark hallway and then two white people in masks and Maga hats attack you with fists, throw bleach on you and then put a noose around your neck.

Except really it's all a ruse. The people in masks aren't really white, they hit you lightly with gloves full of feathers, the bleach is water in squirtguns and the noose is a bolero tie that says - Thanks for coming to Disneyland! :)

The say we can do that and have a laugh about it is the day we know the world's going to be ok :)

[Godfather]

I've never been stung by a bee, wasp, hornet *knocks on wood*

Vibrates them to death with heat?? Keep that shit away from the government :lol:

That's lucky! Damn.

I've got weird bad luck with them. Stepped on a couple at the cabin as a kid, swarmed as I mentioned, and stung a number of times while landscaping as a summer job.

A few summers back my brother and I were at my uncle's cabin and went to go race kayaks early in the morning. I ran down to the dock and yelled "shotgun on the blue one." I hop into it and throw on the life jacket... fucking wasp IN THE JACKET starts shredding my stomach. Cue my brother rolling around laughing as I'm ripping the jacket off and running around yelling in anger.

[lost in melb.]

That's lucky! Damn.

I've got weird bad luck with them. Stepped on a couple at the cabin as a kid, swarmed as I mentioned, and stung a number of times while landscaping as a summer job.

A few summers back my brother and I were at my uncle's cabin and went to go race kayaks early in the morning. I ran down to the dock and yelled "shotgun on the blue one." I hop into it and throw on the life jacket... fucking wasp IN THE JACKET starts shredding my stomach. Cue my brother rolling around laughing as I'm ripping the jacket off and running around yelling in anger.

They are painful!

I recently stumbled across a sweet little yellow and black wood turtle and bent down to examine. It was struggling across a decent sized hole in the forest floor, knocking dirt down into it. As I straddled the little fella to get a closer look I noticed other little yellow and black things flying in and out of the hole. 1/2 a second later my bare legs were on fire :hills:

[Noilly Pratt]

We get huge moths. One was trapped in my car and triggered my alarm' s motion sensor. At 1am. I was popular with my neighbours for quite a while.

And, funny - I know the dude they talked to - Paul Van Westendorp - from my former job. He's a good dude. He actually helped me conquer my fear of bees and made me fascinated with them. I still think Wasps and Hornets are the assholes of the insect community, though despite his efforts to prove to me the opposite!

And, yes, he's been stung by many different insects many different times.