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How Japanese honeybees kill the invading giant hornet

Started By OhNoNotAgain , May 4 2020 4:25 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted May 4 2020 - 4:25 PM

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So I tried looking up "murder hornet" in Japanese, and all I could find were references to killer bees (the Africanized honeybee).

After some more digging I believe the much-ballyhooed murder hornet is actually called the Giant Sparrow Hornet/Wasp in Japanese ( https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/オオスズメバチ   for anyone interested). Normal hornets are called sparrow hornets/wasps anyway (Japanese doesn't really distinguish in the base word "hachi" among bees, wasps, and hornets). People are making jokes about the giant hornet in America now, but in Japan they are apparently the number one cause of wildlife-triggered death. It's only funny as long as your family isn't the one that draws the short straw.

 

But I did find this article about how Asian honeybees (Apis cerana according to the above wiki article) have developed a defense against the hornet, something the European A. mellifera cannot do: cooking the scouts. This is really, really cool. Check out the Nat Geo video embedded in this article for how they signal each other, etc. 

 

EDIT: Speaking of which, apparently the giant hornet starts up a warning rattling sound in their nest when an intruder comes too close. If you hear what looks like a hornet nest rattling, stay far away.

 

https://www.foxnews....r-hornet-report


Edited by OhNoNotAgain, May 4 2020 - 4:33 PM.

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Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus, vicinus, quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and previously californicus

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#2 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted May 4 2020 - 7:33 PM

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I swear, if I see one of these hornets anywhere near where I live...


#3 Offline ponerinecat - Posted May 5 2020 - 8:02 AM

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Ill keep it as a specimen. Would be a cool find.


#4 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 5 2020 - 8:14 AM

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I would blowtorch(we have a giant one) it, and their nest if possible.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#5 Offline AntsDakota - Posted May 5 2020 - 8:42 AM

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I probably wouldn't go anywhere near the nest, and call pest control.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#6 Offline ponerinecat - Posted May 5 2020 - 8:47 AM

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I would blowtorch(we have a giant one) it, and their nest if possible.

And that's how to get killed. Too many stings can literally cause heart failure. No need to disturb them at all.


#7 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 5 2020 - 9:05 AM

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Notice I said if possible. If it was a large nest, I would never do that. Only if it was a queen and like 2 workers.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#8 Offline AntsDakota - Posted May 5 2020 - 9:22 AM

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I would blowtorch(we have a giant one) it, and their nest if possible.

And that's how to get killed. Too many stings can literally cause heart failure. No need to disturb them at all.

 

 

I probably wouldn't go anywhere near the nest, and call pest control.

And this is how to not get killed.........


Edited by AntsDakota, May 5 2020 - 9:22 AM.

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#9 Offline zantezaint - Posted May 10 2020 - 4:34 PM

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Amazing video. Getting barbecued alive is one way to go...


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https://www.formicul...ale-california/

 

4 x Solenopsis xyloni (Fire ant) colonies.

2 x Veromessor andrei (Seed-harvester ant) colonies.

19 x Pogonomyrmex subnitidus (Seed-harvester ant) colonies + 3 x Pogonomyrmex (ID uncertain) colonies

16 x Linepithema humile (Argentine ant) colonies.

1 x Unknown Formicidae colony.

1 x Tapinoma sessile (Odorous house ant) colony.

1 x Camponotus fragilis (Carpenter/wood ant) colony + 1 x Camponotus sansabeanus (Carpenter/wood ant) colony.

1 x Solenopsis molesta (Thief ant) colony.

#10 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted May 11 2020 - 9:15 PM

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I really liked how the bees coordinated with each other. Like "Ready ... on your marks ... get set ...."

Oh and then one of them is like, "I can't wait any more. Charrrgge!"


Edited by OhNoNotAgain, May 11 2020 - 9:20 PM.

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Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus, vicinus, quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and previously californicus

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

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