Another Asian giant hornet was discovered in the Lower Mainland this week, according to a government information bulletin.
Beekeepers and residents in the area are asked to report any Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) sightings, following the discovery of one of the insects near the junction of Fraser Highway and Highway 13 in Aldergrove on Nov. 7.
Earlier this month, a giant hornet was discovered approximately five kilometres away from where one where the most recent one was found.
Both findings are thought to coincide with a phase in the hornets’ life cycle in which they disperse from their nests to look for new hornets to mate with.
Each of the five confirmed hornets found in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland since 2019 have been a result of public reports.
In early October, a sterile worker was discovered in B.C. close to the United States border. Provincial Apiculturist Paul van Westendorp told Vancouver Is Awesome in a phone interview that finding the worker was less concerning than finding a queen.
"When you deal with a queen they will have the capability to produce, and that's what we don't want," he explained.
Just a few weeks ago, the first-ever Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S. was discovered just south of the B.C. border in Blaine, Washington. However, an Asian giant hornet nest was previously discovered and successfully destroyed last year in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
Westerndorp noted that the B.C. specimen was found approximately two-and-a-half kilometres north of where the nest is located.
Single hornets were found in White Rock and Langley in 2019, and on 0 Avenue in Langley in 2020. A nest has never been found in the Fraser Valley or Lower Mainland.
Survey efforts in the Fraser Valley in 2020 have focused on surveillance and trap monitoring along 0 Avenue with the support of local beekeepers and other organizations, as well as in Nanaimo.
The buzz about Asian giant hornets
An invasive species, the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia), is commonly referred to as the 'murder hornet.' Normally found in the forests and low mountains of eastern and southeast Asia, it remains unclear how they arrived in North America. Their moniker — perhaps better suited for a comic book title or rock band name — was coined in Japan.
Despite the presence of more specimens and the discovery of a nest, Westerndorp says it isn't a cause for mass hysteria. While they can be dangerous when their nests are disturbed, they are not actively attacking humans. That said, he emphasizes that you should not disturb their nests--which are typically located on the ground or in crevasses.
Disturbing a nest will put them on the attack. And a sting packs a mighty wallop.
A Vancouver Island man says the sting felt as though hot thumbtacks had been stuck into his leg. Further, he experienced “throbbing muscular aches” in his legs for about 24 hours.
Though Asian giant hornet activity declines rapidly as colder temperatures arrive, people are encouraged to report possible findings.
What to do
• If you find a nest, do not disturb it. Leave the area.
• Stings are rare but could occur if the nest is disturbed.
• Because of the larger amount of venom injected, a sting can be very painful and cause localized swelling, redness and itching.
• Treat a sting similar to wasp or bee stings by putting ice or a cold compress on the site to reduce inflammation and spread of venom.
• Do not rub the site because it will spread venom.
• People who are stung multiple times (10 or more) have a higher risk of developing toxic or allergic reactions, lightheadedness or dizziness.
• People who are stung multiple time or who develop symptoms of toxic or allergic reactions are advised to seek medical attention immediately.
• If you think you’ve spotted an Asian giant hornet, call the Invasive Species Council of B.C. at 1-888-933-3722, or via the council’s “Report Invasives” mobile phone app, or online HERE.
- With files from Carla Wilson / The Times Colonist and The Canadian Press.
