Asian Giant Hornets in Washington, OMG what next? (Vancouver, Bellingham: insurance, how much)

[happygrrrl]

I was just reading about these. They're very large, aggressive, and a sting can kill you. They make their nests in the ground, and rip the heads off honeybees, and overtake their hives.

WSU states they probably arrived last December with cargo. They're most prevalent in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, Jefferson & Clallam Counties, maybe a couple of other nearby counties, I can't remember. Obviously, they are a huge threat to the already endangered honeybees. They are at their worst July-October.

WSU's advice if you come upon them is to run! WTH ?

[xPlorer48]

We host hives on our rural property in Whatcom County. Local beekeepers are on this. They prefer large oak trees at least 10” in diameter. If these aren’t available, then alder or maple will suffice. He will be setting traps on our property and other beekeepers will set traps where their bee hives are. They look terribly wicked, don’t they?

[Montezia]

I have a question...how much would it cost to treat such a bee sting? Do we even have a treatment?

[wiseguy15]

Or maybe it is Mr Inslee's way of taking the focus off the virus..........Wait a minute, maybe the hornet has the virus or brought it over from China. My apologies to the beekeepers, I realize it is serious to them but just trying to provide some humor also so now I will buzz off.

[elkotronics]

[bartonizer]

Must've been a slow news weekend, this seemed to be on every network. There are so many threads on Bellingham's subreddit that the moderators are removing them!

Anyway, OP-I'm not sure where you got your information, but perhaps it will make you feel better to know they are NOT prevalent throughout any part of the state, at least yet. Several dead Giant Asian Hornets have been found here in Whatcom County after numerous spottings in BC, including a nest that was destroyed on Vancouver Island. That's it so far, and state biologists have set up traps in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Everson, Blaine and in surrounding countrysides.

Also, a single sting can't kill you unless you're allergic. Getting swarmed by them, however, could be a different story.

I've been kind of obsessed with these little monsters for years. On the east coast, we had the non-native European Hornets that were less aggressive, and just a hair smaller- but still terrifying to find! Fun fact: Japanese honeybees have developed a defense mechanism against them. It wouldn't help the bees here until they evolved the defense, but it's really fascinating: https://youtu.be/K6m40W1s0Wc.

[thatguy950]

Looks like the government better order us to shelter in place again

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by thatguy950

Looks like the government better order us to shelter in place again

Or bring back DDT?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by xPlorer48

We host hives on our rural property in Whatcom County. Local beekeepers are on this. They prefer large oak trees at least 10” in diameter. If these aren’t available, then alder or maple will suffice. He will be setting traps on our property and other beekeepers will set traps where their bee hives are. They look terribly wicked, don’t they?

"Wicked"?! They look like something out of a horror film! How have the Japanese (and Chinese) coped with these monstrosities all these years/generations???!!!

[Sydney123]

Originally Posted by Montezia

I have a question...how much would it cost to treat such a bee sting? Do we even have a treatment?

I am deathly allergic to bee venom.
I have to carry an Epipen which cost around 125.00 each ( good for one injection). There’s also the cost of the ER visit, ( after injecting myself), but most of that is covered by insurance. The last time.. the ER visit was 650.00 just to have me lay there for a couple hours while being monitored.