Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: watercarving on February 01, 2008, 11:52:19 AM

Title: Japanese Hornets
Post by: watercarving on February 01, 2008, 11:52:19 AM
Anybody ever have this happen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtFVQe4JRmA

We have them around here.
Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: Understudy on February 01, 2008, 12:02:47 PM
Japanese honeybees have developed this trait as a defense mechanism against the hornets. We have discussed this on the forums before but is an utterly amazing thing so I am sure discussion it again won't be an issue.

I will tell you this european bees in japan don't do so well because they don't have this trait.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: hilltop hives on February 01, 2008, 12:27:17 PM
A couple of years ago I had a problem with the large hornets your seeing. I found out that what we have are not the Japanese hornets but in fact Brown European hornets. They're not quite as large but do have the same habits of targeting bees. During that time period I spent a lot of time at my hives killing the hornets. A badmiten racket does a great job. They also fly at night so if you turn on a light they will come to catch moths then you can swat them. Yellow Jacket traps also work well. Google Brown Hornets and you can read more about them.
Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: watercarving on February 01, 2008, 12:48:36 PM
That's them. Thought they were the Japanese ones.

Got in my attic one time and built a nest. We thought it was a squirrel from all the scratching. Big suckers. Killed'em all!

Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: poka-bee on February 01, 2008, 12:50:08 PM
I saw this on Animal Planet a while ago.  Utterly amazing. I found myself yelling "Go Bees GO!"  Don't know if they are here in the NW (the climate is somewhat simiar) but I will continue flcking & stompling any hornets I find in my property.  I poke (with a long 1x2) & smush the nests in the eves of the house & barn on cold mornings/evenings summer & fall before they get busy!  There are acres & acres of woodland for them to live in around here so don't come to my house :-x.  I used to run a daycare..little kids & hornets don't mix! I found a HUGE nest in the pasture one year, was bigger than a basketball.  Cut it down, sprayed & cut it open for the daycare kids to look at.  Had all stages of larva & pupa...many were still alive in the center w/new hornets ready to hatch so we burned it too..never can bee too careful..besides, kids LOVE fire & if Jody the short old daycare lady can handle hornets without fear..big burley brave Dads can too! :-D Everything is a learning experience for kids!
Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: beeginner on February 01, 2008, 06:36:08 PM
My good friend stateinspecter has seen that over sea's     He said good thing we don't have them in the usa yet!     Then there is some other pest for a honey bee thats a japanese something or other lol. But its worse then the mites and the rest of the stuff we have.
Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: Jerrymac on February 01, 2008, 07:25:39 PM
Not Japanese Beetle is it? I got lots of them but they are no problem.
Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: beeginner on February 02, 2008, 03:27:05 AM
Quote from: Jerrymac on February 01, 2008, 07:25:39 PM
Not Japanese Beetle is it? I got lots of them but they are no problem.


Nope!!           its some thing Japanese________ Dragon  I think!!! I woud ask but he is in napual or w/e
Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: dpence on February 02, 2008, 11:21:03 PM
Quote from: watercarving on February 01, 2008, 12:48:36 PM
That's them. Thought they were the Japanese ones.

Got in my attic one time and built a nest. We thought it was a squirrel from all the scratching. Big suckers. Killed'em all!



Same here, man they sure can put a wallop on you too.  There is also a solitary wasp called a cicada killer here that is pretty big also.  It burrows in the ground.

David
Title: Re: Japanese Hornets
Post by: Sean Kelly on February 03, 2008, 08:24:57 AM
I recorded on my TiVo a show about these Giant hornets called, "Buddah, Bees and the Giant Hornet Queen".  Talk about interesting!!!  They showed this monk picking one of these hornets up off a flower and it was HUGE!!!  Spooky stuff!  I think I'm gunna order the DVD of this show.

Sean Kelly