# Invasive species: Giant hornets in Washington state, British Columbia **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181 "2020-05-05T14:52:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/21 "2020-05-07T02:59:16Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > We should train bats to find the hornet’s nests and then attach little incendiary devices to them to burn the hive down. Nothing could go wrong with that. Almost! A little glimmer of hopeful news here. I saw a news item describing an incident where the bees fought back against a murder hornet – with fire! – and won. [Watch Honey Bees Cleverly Kill A Murder Hornet](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/honey-bees-kill-cook-murder-hornet_n_5eb2822ac5b6874cc72ff31f), Ron Dicker, _Huffington Post_, May 6, 2020. > [@](#): > > Watch these Japanese honey bees fight back, in the clip below, by luring a murder hornet into their hive, then swarming it. The attack raises their collective temperature and essentially “cooks” the giant hornet to death. It seems to say that a hive of bees took on ONE SINGLE hornet and killed it. Less obvious if a beehive can defend itself against a whole platoon of hornets. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/22 "2020-05-07T03:07:40Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > How many plagues are we up to now? Let us enumerate them. Note: According to traditional ritual, we spill a drop of wine out of our cups as each plague is named. 1. [Swarms of locusts in East Africa.](https://www.npr.org/2020/02/21/807483297/why-are-swarms-of-locusts-wreaking-havoc-in-east-africa) (Where are the seagulls when you need them?) 2. Donald Trump and family and associates. 3. Covid-1 through Covid-19. 4. Droughts. 5. Robocalls. 6. And now: Murder hornets. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/23 "2020-05-07T03:09:07Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/24 "2020-05-07T03:16:51Z")
This story says that the “invasion” is limited to a few counties in the Pacific Northwest, efforts are being made to eradicate them when alerted to their presence, and the vast majority of the U.S. does not have a proper climate to support them. > **[No, Americans Do Not Need to Panic About 'Murder Hornets'](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/invasion-murder-hornets-180974809/?fbclid=IwAR20dD5IWIteehU15lZzzCA4CWueV9gI5tC3MRptf5rr7Q63b_psib8nK_E#.XrLUDCf8TA0.facebook)** > > The Asian giant hornet, seen for the first time in North America in 2019, is unlikely to murder you or U.S. bees, according to a Smithsonian entomologist ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/25 "2020-05-07T04:55:13Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > This story says that the “invasion” is limited to a few counties in the Pacific Northwest, efforts are being made to eradicate them when alerted to their presence, and the vast majority of the U.S. does not have a proper climate to support them. > > [No, Americans Do Not Need to Panic About 'Murder Hornets' | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/invasion-murder-hornets-180974809/?fbclid=IwAR20dD5IWIteehU15lZzzCA4CWueV9gI5tC3MRptf5rr7Q63b_psib8nK_E#.XrLUDCf8TA0.facebook) I didn’t see it mentioned specifically in that article, but as far as I’ve understood, it’s only one county in the US (Whatcom County, Washington), plus a couple specimens in Canada. But it wasn’t that long ago that there was only one covid-19 case in the US, too. I’d rather these guys not get out of control, since we’re only 3 counties away here in Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/26 "2020-05-07T17:04:40Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > This story says that the “invasion” is limited to a few counties in the Pacific Northwest, efforts are being made to eradicate them when alerted to their presence, and the vast majority of the U.S. does not have a proper climate to support them. > > [No, Americans Do Not Need to Panic About 'Murder Hornets' | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/invasion-murder-hornets-180974809/?fbclid=IwAR20dD5IWIteehU15lZzzCA4CWueV9gI5tC3MRptf5rr7Q63b_psib8nK_E#.XrLUDCf8TA0.facebook) My favorite phrase from that article: “vibrating bee balls”. That would make a good swear. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/27 "2020-05-07T17:05:37Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > They are not the same insect though. > > [While the ‘murder hornet’ is not in Pa., you could come across a giant wasp - pennlive.com](https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/05/murder-hornet-is-not-in-pa-but-a-giant-wasp-does-live-here.html) Which is exactly my point. The Murder Hornets are not “everywhere”. People are mistaking other big, nasty looking insects for the new ones. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/28 "2020-05-07T18:00:50Z")
I’ve been trying to rediscover an article I read days ago that had a comparison photo including a cicada killer and an Asian/Japanese hornet, and finally [found it](https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/3/21245612/murder-hornets-asian-giant-hornet-bees). I see cicada killers occasionally–[here](https://imgur.com/a/Z2pnA1z) is one that I captured in my house. (Also, when I went to upload my photo, [this](https://m.imgur.com/gallery/crcmjRj) was on the front page.) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/29 "2020-05-07T18:11:17Z")
I worry about this about as much I worried about Africanized Killer Bees, remember them? ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/30 "2020-05-07T18:16:32Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I’ve been trying to rediscover an article I read days ago that had a comparison photo including a cicada killer and an Asian/Japanese hornet, and finally [found it](https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/3/21245612/murder-hornets-asian-giant-hornet-bees). I see cicada killers occasionally–[here](https://imgur.com/a/Z2pnA1z) is one that I captured in my house. (Also, when I went to upload my photo, [this](https://m.imgur.com/gallery/crcmjRj) was on the front page.) Okay, what do we need to do to encourage habitat for praying mantises? How can I encourage them to guard me and my home? I am thinking of making one a pet I can wear on my hat when I go out walking. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/31 "2020-05-07T18:27:18Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I am thinking of making one a pet I can wear on my hat when I go out walking. “I never thought praying mantii would eat MY head!” ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/32 "2020-05-07T18:46:14Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > “I never thought praying mantii would eat MY head!” It was the little black dress and the Chanel No. Five she was wearing, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/33 "2020-05-07T22:39:39Z")
I had to check something - the murder hornets are about 4 cm long. That’s just slightly less than the diameter of a _golf ball._ ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/34 "2020-05-07T23:18:39Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > I didn’t see it mentioned specifically in that article, but as far as I’ve understood, it’s only one county in the US (Whatcom County, Washington), plus a couple specimens in Canada. But it wasn’t that long ago that there was only one covid-19 case in the US, too. I’d rather these guys not get out of control, since we’re only 3 counties away here in Seattle. It appears that authorities are doing their best to get rid of them as they find nests. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/35 "2020-05-08T02:48:34Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > My favorite phrase from that article: “vibrating bee balls”. That would make a good swear. “[Great golden digger wasps](https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/3/21245612/murder-hornets-asian-giant-hornet-bees)!” is also nice. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/36 "2020-05-08T04:05:27Z")
If these Murder Hornets are smart, they’ll hire a good lawyer and bargain down to Manslaughter Bees… ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/37 "2020-05-08T04:20:19Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > I had to check something - the murder hornets are about 4 cm long. That’s just slightly less than the diameter of a _golf ball._ Sure, but even if small, their size isn’t the reason they’re so bad. They destroy entire hives of bees, a critical pollinator. And the bullet ant, which is smaller yet than the giant hornet, packs what is considered by many to be the most agonizing sting in all of insect-dom, so size and sting torment are not correlated. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/38 "2020-05-08T04:46:46Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xvPk7EXxdUE/maxresdefault.jpg "Praying Mantis vs. Murder Hornet") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvPk7EXxdUE) A Murder Hornet vs Praying Mantis. Things dont go well for the Murder Hornet. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/39 "2020-05-08T05:06:27Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > And the bullet ant, which is smaller yet than the giant hornet, packs what is considered by many to be the most agonizing sting in all of insect-dom, so size and sting torment are not correlated. I have been stung by five bullet ants at the same time. The name (which refers to the sting feeling like being hit by a bullet) is well deserved. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181/40 "2020-05-08T13:26:22Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Sure, but even if small, their size isn’t the reason they’re so bad. They destroy entire hives of bees, a critical pollinator. And the bullet ant, which is smaller yet than the giant hornet, packs what is considered by many to be the most agonizing sting in all of insect-dom, so size and sting torment are not correlated. Their size (specifically that of their stinger) certainly has an impact on what kind of protective gear is effective against them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invasive-species-giant-hornets-in-washington-state-british-columbia/853181.md?page=3)