Beekeepers everywhere worried about ‘Murder Hornets’ even in Michigan

by:Joe LaFurgey

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — By now you've probably heard that “Murder Hornets” are already arriving in the U.S.

Early reports indicated that giant Asian hornets have been found in Washington state. The hornets look like a caricature of every big bad bug you might have experienced in a nightmare, with freakish looking eyes and a stinger.

Gard Otis, a retired University of Guelph-Ontario professor said of the insects, “Our native hornets and wasps are a quarter to a half the size. It’s like these things are huge. They have a stinger that’s about a quarter of an inch long. And enough venom, about 20 times the venom of a honeybee.”

In rare instances Gard adds, the hornets can kill a human if stung multiple times

When asked about the Asian "murder hornets", Michigan State University Professor Howard Russell said, “In terms of risk, honeybee keepers and honeybees are probably at the top of the list,” “They’ll kill all of the adults in a given hive and occupy the colony and feed on the brood for a couple of weeks or so.”

Read the full story at: WOODTV.COM


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