Do the Hawaiin Islands have the Japanese Hornet? (2013, garden)

[Grassyknoll]

I did use the forum search functions but did not find and answer so please excuse me if this has been asked and answered previously.

After lurking the BI forum for a while, I know there is every form of creepy-crawler (of the eight, six and two-legged variety) to be found over there. But I was curious as to whether Hawaii had the Asian/Japanese Hornet? I had never seen them on any of my trips to the islands and even a Google search didn't give me an easy to find answer.
Can anyone confirm whether they are or are not present in Hawaii?

Mahalo in advance.

[hotzcatz]

I've never heard of them. How are they different from the usual wasps and hornets? There aren't a lot of wasps or hornets around that I've noticed. Those big black fuzzy carpenter bees, but not too many yellow jackets, at least in my yard and travels.

[Grassyknoll]

Hotzcatz, if you do a Google search, you will see how different they are than the garden variety wasps/hornets (like yellow jackets). Pretty fearsome little buggers. I think they kill around 40 people each year in Asia.

[KaraBenNemsi]

Thankfully we don't have those. Yet. But new invasion species arriving on a constant schedule. Most harmful to the current environment, some towards each other. So it'll be just a matter of time till a pregnant Asian hornet makes it into the cargo hold of a plane or in a shipping container.

I assume they will be easier to fight than little red fire ants, but once they are in the jungle they can multiply quickly before one takes notice.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

So it'll be just a matter of time till a pregnant Asian hornet makes it into the cargo hold of a plane or in a shipping container.

They actually showed up two years ago in Arlington, Illinois, but fortunately didn't gain a foothold there.

Here's a report from last fall that shows how huge these monsters are when fully grown.

Giant Asian Hornets Are Killing People In China, Breeding In Larger Numbers: Reports (UPDATED)

[Grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

Thankfully we don't have those. Yet. But new invasion species arriving on a constant schedule. Most harmful to the current environment, some towards each other. So it'll be just a matter of time till a pregnant Asian hornet makes it into the cargo hold of a plane or in a shipping container.

Hopefully these pests don't make it there KaraBenNemsi. I remember years ago reading the Book "Out of Eden" about Hawaii and invasive species. Pretty unrelenting onslaught that does not bode well for endemic species.

Originally Posted by OpenD

They actually showed up two years ago in Arlington, Illinois, but fortunately didn't gain a foothold there.

Here's a report from last fall that shows how huge these monsters are when fully grown.

Giant Asian Hornets Are Killing People In China, Breeding In Larger Numbers: Reports (UPDATED)

OpenD, not many bugs give me the heebies, but those definitely do. Funny though, as Black Widow season has started here in Northern California and they are everywhere on the outside of my house. These I've become so accustomed to, that I'll smoosh them with bare hands.
But those Asian Hornets, they just plain creep me out.