Worried about the so-called murder hornet making its way to our area? Don’t be, says a local naturalist.
There’s been lots of talk about the Asian giant hornet — Vespa mandarinia — the world’s largest hornet, in recent weeks, with stories of the insects’ large mandibles capable of decapitating honeybees and decimating their colonies.
“A lot of people are overreacting to it,” said Orillia’s Bob Bowles. “It’s an aggressive hornet, but their climate is so much different. I don’t think it will ever get into our area as a problem, unless our weather changes.”
Some have, however, been spotted in North America, in the Pacific Northwest.
“If they’re going to get anywhere in Canada, it’ll be the Gulf Islands,” Bowles said of that area of British Columbia. “It’s not an imminent threat.”
The fact the Asian giant hornet lives up to its name — it can grow to almost two inches in length — means Ontario would not be a suitable setting.
“A large insect like that wouldn’t be readily adaptable because they tend to lose more heat,” Bowles said, adding he doesn’t expect to see them here “unless our climate changes greatly.”
Besides, we already have an invasive hornet here — Vespa crabro, or the European hornet. There’s a nest of them at Regan House in Scout Valley.
“It’s big, but nothing like (the Asian giant hornet),” Bowles said.
