Be afraid. Bee very afraid.

[Banquo's Ghost]

It appears that France is undergoing a terrible invasion by illegal immigrants that are literally butchering the peaceful natives without mercy and stealing their babies. And they're on their way north.

Oriental death squads menace France (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=XMWSGPBPU1JTFQFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2007/02/21/whornets21.xml).

Hornets hit France and could reach Britain

By Peter Allen in Paris
Last Updated: 2:40am GMT 21/02/2007

Swarms of giant hornets renowned for their vicious stings and skill at massacring honeybees have settled in France.

And there are now so many of the insects that entomologists fear it will just be a matter of time before they cross to Britain.

Global warming has largely been blamed for the survival and spread of the Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina, which is thought to have arrived in France from the Far East in a consignment of Chinese pottery in late 2004.

Thousands of football-shaped hornet nests are now dotted all over the forests of Aquitaine, the south-western region of France hugely popular with British tourists.

"Their spread across French territory has been like lightning," said Jean Haxaire, the entomologist who originally identified the new arrival.

He said he had recently seen 85 nests in the 40-odd miles which separate the towns of Marmande and Podensac, in the Lot et Garonne department where the hornets were first spotted.

The hornets can grow to up to 1.8in and, with a wingspan of 3in, are renowned for inflicting a bite which has been compared to a hot nail entering the body.

A handful can destroy a nest of 30,000 bees in just a couple of hours — a major concern among the beekeeping industry.

"The problems are not necessarily public health ones, but ecological ones. These hornets can cause immense damage to beehives," said Mr Haxaire. The hornets are renowned for feeding their young with the larvae of other social insects, including bees, whose nests they break into and ransack. The French beekeeping industry has already been decimated by pesticides and long, hot summers.

Honey production from the 1.3 million hives run by 80,000 beekeepers has been decreasing annually — down by 60 per cent in south-western France during the past decade.

A spokesman for the French National Been Surveillance Unit said the bee death rate during winter was now up to six in ten.

As a result France has to import some 25,000 tons of honey annually.

"The arrival of these hornets has made the situation considerably worse," the spokesman added. "The future of our entire industry is at stake."

Yesterday, there was concern that it may not take long before the Asian hornet makes its way to Britain.

"There's no doubt that these hornets are heading north and will probably find their way to Britain at some point," said Stuart Hine, manager of the Insect Information Service at London's Natural History Museum.

"Climate change certainly means they can cope with European summers. However, they would still have difficulty coping with our winter frosts."

While some 40 people a year die from hornet stings — mainly because of allergic reactions — Claire Villement, of France's Natural History Museum, said there was no need for a "national panic about killer wasps".

Mrs Villement said: "The legend that three bites from a hornet can kill you are totally false. People can still enjoy their picnics in the countryside."

And in case you think there's no cause for concern, watch possibly the most awe-inspiring video (http://educatedearth.net/video.php?id=2728&vo=51) I have seen this year.

[Gregoshi]

I've seen that video before and it still amazes me. Those hornets make Schwarzenegger, Norris, Stallone, Seagal, Willis and The Rock look like wimps in comparison.

[Sjakihata]

I wonder how they've got energy for that amount of fighting. They are, after all, still tiny insects. Fighting for 3+ hours takes a lot of energy.

I hope they'll never reach Denmark, they are not a bug you want to mess with.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I would have thought you could burn the nests or something why weren't the little bugs destroyed mercilesly when they arrived?

Banquo: Is the obvious pun on "bug" allowed here?

[KukriKhan]

Here in the US southwest, we have Africanized Honey Bees (http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/kbees.html), the so-called "Killer Bees". Not a huge problem - yet. Over time, they get less aggressive, after cross-mating with our more docile European Honey Bees.

To believe the media 10 years ago, it was the Mongol Horde come to life, gonna kill us all!!11!!

[BDC]

These won't interbreed though, they're a totally different species.

Clearly we need to master the famous bee dance-language, and teach them battle tactics. Then bow down to our new bee overlords as they annex Europe.

[ShadeHonestus]

Something like 7000+ people a year die in the U.S. alone because pharmacists are unable to read prescriptions properly and provide the wrong medicine or dose. Once this gets fixed I'll worry about Iraq....and after that, somewhere in 20 years I'll worry about the 40 annual deaths from hornets.

[Spino]

If the situation gets hopeless France should consider importing Japanese honey bees to make up for lost production and counter the threat. Japanese honey bees handle wasps and other intruders with relative ease because they literally swarm intruders with a massive banzai charge and hold on tight until they're dead. Seriously now, the banzai pile-on raises the body temperature of the hornets to the point where they become incapacitated and die (repeated bee stings don't help either). In contrast, European honeybees are completely unable to coordinate their attacks and what's worse, they only attack one at a time! Easy kill for a hornet.

The last vestige of chivalry in France or a genetic trait of the tragically fatal persuasion... you make the call!

[ShadeHonestus]

The last vestige of chivalry in France or a genetic trait of the tragically fatal persuasion... you make the call!

Maybe they'll pass some laws limiting the amount of air time non-domestic insects can receive on the radio, thereby protecting them from competition and protecting the culture of the French Honey Bee and all they do for France.

Oh wait...

[The_Doctor]

I for one welcome our new insect overlords.

[drone]

Here in the US southwest, we have Africanized Honey Bees (http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/kbees.html), the so-called "Killer Bees". Not a huge problem - yet. Over time, they get less aggressive, after cross-mating with our more docile European Honey Bees.

To believe the media 10 years ago, it was the Mongol Horde come to life, gonna kill us all!!11!!
Killer bees were supposed to spread all over the south and move north, killing hundreds of people as they went. By the time I left Georgia, they still hadn't arrived, and I'm not sure they have gotten there yet. But it sure sold a lot of papers. :rolleyes:

[Pannonian]

Here in the US southwest, we have Africanized Honey Bees (http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/stories/kbees.html), the so-called "Killer Bees". Not a huge problem - yet. Over time, they get less aggressive, after cross-mating with our more docile European Honey Bees.

To believe the media 10 years ago, it was the Mongol Horde come to life, gonna kill us all!!11!!
Ah, but are they allowed to vote in local elections before they've fully naturalised?

[TB666]

Gah, give me a can of hair-spray and a lighter and I will show these bugs who's boss.

[Gregoshi]

Pannonian, are you try to cross-mate heated Backroom threads with light-hearted ones to create a more docile Backroom environment? I wish you luck. ~D

[Mooks]

Goes to show you that the french are still weak, even their bees are getting po:help: :help: :help: :help: :help: wned.

[Martok]

Stupid wasps. Oh, how I hate them.... :furious3:

[Mooks]

Stupid wasps. Oh, how I hate them.... :furious3:

I wonder what the french are doing to kill them off? I mean, those bees got massacred.

[master of the puppets]

yeah wasps suck, worst thing about summer in new jersey, it was like 40 degrees here today(wow) and just today i actually saw one on my porch, he was newly hatched as he could not fly and his shell was not so hard as it should of been... he still made a crunch tho.:skull: :evilgrin:

The article says there are around 40 nests per 4 miles, thats not enough bees man, the bee population will almost definatly be completely annihilated and the wasps will starve, i hope the french can counter then with ... poisoned bee larva mabey?

[ajaxfetish]

Somehow, that was one of the most sickening videos I've seen in a long time. The underdog-loving American in me just wants to sob at the relentless destruction of the helpless hive. Even disregarding the massacre, the idea of a hornet nearly 2 inches long is in itself fairly disturbing. We may have to start using tennis rackets in place of fly swatters if this trend continues.

Ajax

[BDC]

Somehow, that was one of the most sickening videos I've seen in a long time. The underdog-loving American in me just wants to sob at the relentless destruction of the helpless hive. Even disregarding the massacre, the idea of a hornet nearly 2 inches long is in itself fairly disturbing. We may have to start using tennis rackets in place of fly swatters if this trend continues.

Ajax
Finally, a reason to actually carry firearms.

"Don't worry ma'am, I can deal with that insect for you... erm, your son wasn't behind that thin wall was he?"

[ZombieFriedNuts]

Don’t we have hornets in England though I’m sure I’ve seen them, anyway I have heard if you crush a hornet they release a pheromone and the hole nest comes to get you.

[Mooks]

Finally, a reason to actually carry firearms.

"Don't worry ma'am, I can deal with that insect for you... erm, your son wasn't behind that thin wall was he?"


Thats called "Acceptable casualities".

[Kralizec]

Ajax: I had the same feeling. I know it's the way of nature, but it was still disturbing to watch.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Pannonian, are you try to cross-mate heated Backroom threads with light-hearted ones to create a more docile Backroom environment? I wish you luck. ~D

Cross breeding can lead to even more dangerous things, you know.

Check out Luigi's video in the backroom video thread.

Crazed Rabbit

[Mooks]

Whats really funny though is when the hornets were flying in and they made helicopter sounds. And then when the hornet was walking on the wood it made the BOOM BOOM BOOM sounds like in Jurassic Park or Godzilla.

[KukriKhan]

Ah, but are they allowed to vote in local elections before they've fully naturalised?

that


Pannonian, are you try to cross-mate heated Backroom threads with light-hearted ones to create a more docile Backroom environment?

and that, are what keeps this grizzled old moderator coming back to this place. :bow:

I figure that by the time our killer bees reach Topeka, they'll still talk tough and show their tattoos to the bee-chic's, but be pretty harmless. By the time they arrive in Beirut's neighborhood, they'll be buzzing Kum-by-ya in 4-part harmony and pollinating pot plants. :)

Obviously, France must find some happy hippy hornet girlies to rein in their insect menace.

[ShadeHonestus]

I wonder what the french are doing to kill them off? I mean, those bees got massacred.

They are currently cooperating with the wasps forming a governmental agency "Wichy" to govern insects....at least in Southern France.

[Phatose]

I know they're important parts of the ecosystem some way or another, but all the same, every time I see a hornet I can't help but think "This is evil in an exoskeleton, and I'd be happy if every last one of them were to burn."

30 attack 30,000, slaughter all the adults, and cart off the children to be eaten alive. Wow. The sheer, uncompromising, winner take all/loser is lunch brutality of it boggles the imagination. The insect kingdom certain is a glorious example of triumph or die, ain't it? And wasps....well, they seem to be even more cruel then most. I know their brains can't fathom such concepts, and they simple exist, but all the same.....evil in an exoskeleton.

[Fisherking]

Well you people in the States have your own problems with Bees


US bees buzz off without trace
• Jacqui Goddard, Miami
• February 20, 2007
HUNDREDS of millions of bees have vanished in 22 US states, leaving keepers financially crippled and jeopardising $20billion of crops that need the insects for pollination.
Beekeepers report their hives emptying within days because of an unexplained phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder (CCD), which spontaneously drives swarms to abandon their homes and disappear to die.
While fungus, mites and pesticides have caused die-offs in the past, scientists admit they are struggling to solve this mystery.
"There's no simple answer, no smoking gun," said Jerry Bromenshank, an entomologist at the University of Montana who is involved in the study.
The problem first became apparent in eastern US states, such as Florida and Georgia, during the last three months of last year, but in recent weeks reports have poured in nationwide, sending shudders through the honey industry and triggering alarm among farmers who rent the insects to pollinate their crops. Apiarists move their hives around the nation according to the seasons; California requires 500,000 colonies at this time of year - about 15 billion bees - to pollinate its almond trees.
Because of the deaths, bee supplies are down and the cost of renting them has quadrupled.
Dave Hackenburg, a beekeeper in Pennsylvania since 1962, lost 2000 colonies - about 60 million bees - over a period of three weeks. In Florida with his remaining hives to pollinate citrus trees, he estimates that CCD has cost him up to $870,000.
"It's the worst thing I've seen in 40 years of bee-keeping," he said. "It worries me a lot, because honeybees are like the canary in the coalmine - if something's bothering them, it's a warning to us humans too."
Professor Bromenshank said: "The bees just vanish - that's one of the really strange things. In pesticide kills you normally find them dead, but in this case, one day you've got a big strong colony, two days later you've got virtually an empty box."
Weak or ailing bee colonies are usually raided within hours for their honey by moths, beetles and other bees. But with CCD, the hives are left untouched.
"We saw one guy in California with hundreds of boxes empty, each with 30 to 40 pounds of honey inside. There are two bee yards within half a mile and they should have been robbing it blind - we should have been fighting them off. But nothing."
The Times

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21254357-2703,00.html

[Banquo's Ghost]

Professor Bromenshank said: "The bees just vanish - that's one of the really strange things. In pesticide kills you normally find them dead, but in this case, one day you've got a big strong colony, two days later you've got virtually an empty box."

Clearly alien abduction.

The UFOs haven't been able to find intelligent life amongst the humans they have probed so far, so they're trying the insect population.

Simple explanation.

:alien: :wink:

[Fisherking]

Clearly alien abduction.

The UFOs haven't been able to find intelligent life amongst the humans they have probed so far, so they're trying the insect population.

Simple explanation.

:alien: :wink:

If you say so then it must be so!

I would have never looked at it in such a light. I thought George W. Bush was behind it in order to stop Granola production and limit the political lefts food supply.

[Fisherking]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/business/27bees.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

See it is still happening! Is Dick Cheney out there with a can of Raid?

[KukriKhan]

Oz to the rescue, again:


from fisherking's article: "...a beekeeper from Columbus, Mont., said he spent $150,000 in the last two weeks buying 1,000 packages of bees — amounting to 14 million bees — from Australia.

He is hoping the Aussie bees will help offset the loss of one-third of the 7,600 hives he manages in six states..."


Agri-business using illegal aliens to do work the US bees no longer want to do for such low wage/forage. Heh.

[ShadeHonestus]

I wonder if all those Australian bees just run around saying "wtf mate" when they find out they are in the U.S.

[drone]

I wonder if all those Australian bees just run around saying "wtf mate" when they find out they are in the U.S.
This may make it nigh impossible to host an outdoor BBQ this summer. ~D

[Watchman]

Obviously, France must find some happy hippy hornet girlies to rein in their insect menace.I thought all hive-insect soldier-worker drones were girls per definition ? And ones singularly uninterested in reproductive activities to boot, that being left to the queen...

[Louis VI the Fat]

And ones singularly uninterested in reproductive activities to bootThat's what all conversations with female foreign tourists begin with. :knight:

[Watchman]

Well, if I understood correctly these ruthlessly slay and eat their would-be native friends, which would seem to exhaust the possibilities of this, uh, conversation (:wink3: Monty Python :wink3:) rather quickly...