Local beekeepers went and disturbed a hornets乌鸦传媒� nest last night.
Four people, including members of the Nanaimo Beekeepers Club, eradicated a nest of Asian giant hornets that they located along the creek behind Robins Park in Harewood.
Conrad Berube, local beekeeper, said it was John and Moufida Holubeshen, were provided with information about stings and specimens.
乌鸦传媒淭hey had a map of tracking information like that and made some very good guesses as to what the biological requirements of the hornets would be,乌鸦传媒� Berube said.
They called him up because he has experience with removing yellow jackets乌鸦传媒� nests, and along with club president Peter Lange, the four of them bundled up in heavy clothing and took down the colony. A carbon-dioxide fire extinguisher was used to 乌鸦传媒渁naesthetize乌鸦传媒� the hornets, Berube said.
乌鸦传媒淲e proceeded to remove the wasps basically by the handful, putting them in the alcohol until we got to a point where we could remove the rest, which we did,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲e were pretty sure we got the great bulk of the inhabitants.乌鸦传媒�
Nanaimo beekeepers disturbed a hornets' nest, literally, last night, "anaesthetizing" the Asian giant hornets with a CO2 fire extinguisher and then scooping them up by the handful乌鸦传媒� (photos submitted)
乌鸦传媒� Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin)
Berube said the group initially hoped it was close to wiping out the hornets, but he said there has now been a report of another nest site close by.
乌鸦传媒淚t may be more than a few nests in the area. We乌鸦传媒檒l see. The good news is, they seem to be restricted to a small area,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Berube was stung four times during Wednesday乌鸦传媒檚 operation and said although he乌鸦传媒檚 fine, someone who isn乌鸦传媒檛 used to the venom could swell up considerably. He said aside from the health risks for humans, the hornets eat honeybees that are already being harmed by varroa mites and pesticides.
乌鸦传媒淥ur honeybees are already under siege by a variety of factors乌鸦传媒ξ谘淮綕 he said. 乌鸦传媒淎 predatory hornet that could take out a colony in a matter of hours would be none too welcome.乌鸦传媒�
The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture noted in a press release that the hornets are being preserved for further research and testing to try to determine their point of origin. The report of a second nest in the area is being investigated, the government said. Those who come across an Asian giant hornet can call the Invasive Species Council of B.C. at 1-888-933-3722 or visit .
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