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posted by Fnord666 on Thursday May 07 2020, @11:15AM   Printer-friendly
from the If-you-can't-beat-them,-eat-them dept.

Murder hornet munchies: The horrifying insect makes a tasty treat:

News of insects nicknamed murder hornets invading the US might feel like the plot to a horror film, but maybe you'll feel better knowing the pests make for a tasty snack.

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is described as 1.5 inches to 2 inches long with an orange-yellow head and black stripes on its abdomen. The stinger is long enough to poke through protective beekeeper suits, and kills up to 50 people a year in Japan alone.

Yes, the large hornets have been spotted in the Pacific Northwest, most notably Washington State, but that doesn't mean residents of the area are doomed. The Asian giant hornet is apparently considered a delicacy in its native Japan.

[...] While foodies in Japan might enjoy seeking out murder hornet nests for snacks and cocktails, it's worth noting that the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) doesn't advocate approaching these deadly pests, which were officially spotted in Washington in December.

The WSDA warns to "use extreme caution near Asian giant hornets. The stinger of the Asian giant hornet is longer than that of a honeybee and the venom is more toxic than any local bee or wasp. If you find a colony, do not attempt to remove or eradicate it. Report it to WSDA (or your local state's department of agriculture) immediately."

Previously:
Tracking the "Murder Hornet": a Deadly Pest Has Reached North America


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  • (Score: 2) by richtopia on Thursday May 07 2020, @03:12PM (2 children)

    by richtopia (3160) on Thursday May 07 2020, @03:12PM (#991347) Homepage Journal

    They will clear out a hive of European honeybees. Still pretty bad in my book, considering how dependent the US agriculture is on the honeybee.

    I wonder if I could start a beehive of Japanese honeybees. I don't see much of an alternative if these wasps become established.

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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by SpockLogic on Thursday May 07 2020, @03:59PM (1 child)

    by SpockLogic (2762) on Thursday May 07 2020, @03:59PM (#991366)

    Japanese Honeybees have a devilish defense method, they cook the invaders alive.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6m40W1s0Wc [youtube.com]

    --
    Overreacting is one thing, sticking your head up your ass hoping the problem goes away is another - edIII
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 07 2020, @04:22PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 07 2020, @04:22PM (#991379)

      Jesus who the hell made that clip - they think fighting bees needs jazzing up with epilepsy-inducing visual effects and music.

      https://youtu.be/K6m40W1s0Wc?t=179>