It’s now the ‘slaughter phase’ for invasive ‘murder hornets’

[Mike Wehner]

• Invasive giant hornets from Asia are about to start slaughtering native bees across the United States.
• The invasion of the so-called "murder hornets" was observed earlier this year, but the insects are about to enter a seasonal phase where they hunt down and kill off smaller bees.
• If you see a giant hornet you should avoid it, but contact local environmental officials to provide details.

As if 2020 didn't kick us enough when we were already down, the revelation that invasive Asian giant hornets — also known by their nickname "murder hornets" — were slowly making homes in the United States. The hornets are an incredibly dangerous invasive species because of their habit of destroying the hives of native bees.

Bees are incredibly vital as pollinators, and a decline in bee populations puts the entire food change on shaky ground. The use of insecticides and other chemicals in agriculture has already damaged robust bee populations, so the murder hornets arrived at the worst possible time. Now, scientists are warning that the hornets are about to enter their seasonal "slaughter phase," where the bees they hunt will be the most vulnerable.

Continue reading...

Today's Top Deals

1. Experts say more grocery hoarding is coming – 5 things to stock up on while you can
2. Early Prime Day deal saves you up to $730 on a stunning Sony 4K smart TV
3. Amazon has special 3M face masks that filter better than anything else on the market

Trending Right Now:

1. CDC issues scary new warning about a deadly coronavirus complication
2. If you have any of this fresh fruit in your fridge, throw it away right now
3. The best sign yet that a second round of $1,200 checks could be coming soon

It’s now the ‘slaughter phase’ for invasive ‘murder hornets’ originally appeared on BGR.com on Mon, 5 Oct 2020 at 18:38:29 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Via BRG - Boy Genius Report