Recently, scientists conducted a genetic analysis of one such insect discovered in Ireland last year, compared it with other Asian giant hornets found in Europe, and traced the bumblebee's lineage.
Scientists have discovered that a lineage of invasive insect species, the Asian giant hornet, is found in Europe. It is understood that the spread of the invasive insect system in Europe began with the first bumblebee arriving in the area nearly 20 years ago. This species was introduced to Europe from China in 2004, causing the Asian giant hornet to spread across the European continent and Channel Islands.
It is reported that the researchers compared the results of the genetic analysis with data on Asian giant hornets found in different locations in Europe and determined that all of the insects are likely to be descendants of a mating hornet queen that arrived in France in 2004.
The findings, now published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, began after the first Asian giant hornet specimens were reported in Ireland in April 2021.
According to a study by scientists, although the climate in Ireland is not particularly favorable for the reproduction of Asian giant hornets, climate change may "increase the threat of successful invasion." It is likely that due to the influence of extreme climate, Asian giant hornet genes will change to adapt to the current environment, resulting in a large-scale invasion of populations without natural enemies.
is poisonous! How scary are Asian giant hornets?
The Asian giant hornet is commonly known as the "murder hornet". Its body length is 2.5 cm to 6.6 cm, its head is orange-yellow, its abdomen has black sky stripes, and its stinger is very long. Ordinary protective clothing of humans can be easily pierced.
Why are Asian giant hornets called killer bees? The sting of the Asian giant hornet can kill people who are allergic to the venom. It disperses two toxic substances, namely hemolytic venom and neurotoxin. According to WSDA data, the amount of venom injected by the Asian giant hornet in one sting can kill a person, and its lethality is comparable to that of venomous snakes.
However, the Asian giant hornet is widely known as the "murder bee", not because the Asian giant hornet kills people frequently, but because its existence is cruel to native bees.
It is reported that the Asian giant hornet has invaded the United States and poses a threat to the survival of American bees. An Asian giant hornet can directly wipe out a nest of American bees in a few minutes, and it is so cruel that it bites off all the heads. According to statistics, one Asian giant hornet can bite the heads of 40 bees to death in one minute.
Do native bees pose a threat to the Asian giant hornet? Because of the tough outer shell of the Asian giant hornet, it is difficult for the stingers of native bees to pierce the body surface of the Asian giant hornet. Therefore, native bees do not pose any threat to the Asian giant hornet. With such a huge disparity in strength, local bees die quickly.
According to Time magazine, an invasion of Asian giant hornets has also occurred in Europe, and honey production has dropped by more than 60%.
How to get rid of Asian giant hornets?
Asian giant hornets are widely distributed in our country, and their existence is also a threat to local bees. For beekeepers, driving away Asian giant hornets is a required course. So, how to drive away Asian giant hornets?
Bumblebees are group animals and are highly aggressive. Please do not operate them without professional training. Driving away bumblebees must be done in a safe manner. Improper operation may cause the bumblebees to become irritated, leading to the risk of being stung by the bumblebees.
Before driving away bumblebees, you should prepare long-sleeved clothes and pants, a wide-brimmed hat, nylon socks, a large strong plastic bag, long-handled pruners, 2 or more cans of wasp insecticide, a long-bladed knife and other tools, which can effectively and quickly clean the bumblebee nest.
Eliminate bumblebees in the periphery by spraying pesticides. After a large number of experiments, it was found that the spraying effect is better at close range, but the farther the distance is, the less effective it is and the risk is higher.
After successfully spraying the insecticide, you can burn the bumblebee's hive by burning it after a while, or you can cut it down with a long knife until it is all gone and then bury it. Spray a pungent-smelling liquid in its place to prevent the bumblebee from building a nest again.
Summary
The Asian giant hornet has successfully invaded Europe, and under the special environment of Europe, it is likely to evolve into a new species and pose a threat to local biological populations. It is necessary to pay close attention to the status of the invasive Asian giant hornet population to avoid large-scale reproduction.
