There’s really no point trying to predict what the next Revelation-like plague 2022 is going to unleash upon us is, because whether it’s Covid or Monkeypox or the Energy Crisis or Putin trying his best to start WWIII, there’s always something around the corner that’s going to top it.
Sure enough, we now have the UK return of Asian hornets as confirmed by the National Bee Unit this week. They revealed the identification of Asian hornets in the Rayleigh area of Essex, and that monitoring is now underway to ‘detect further Asian hornets in the vicinity’.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) issued a warning to beekeepers and members of the public to ‘remain vigilant’ of the insects, which pose a ‘significant threat to the UK’s wildlife’, and are also happy to sting humans too.
According to Regional Bee Inspector Peter Davies, the main group that should be worried about the Asian hornet invasion is the honey bee:
“Once a honey bee colony is located as a food source, the hornets visit it in increasing numbers relentlessly preying on the bees. It is much like a takeaway to them and they can decimate the numbers of bees until the colony collapses.”
So yeah, not good news for anyone really, but especially not for the honey bee. What more positive developments can 2022 bring us before the year is out? Do we know yet if Asian hornets carry Covid? Not saying that because they’re Asian, it’s just that anything seems possible at this point.
Let’s hope they’re only here a short while and don’t outstay their welcome. Thoughts and prayers with the people and honey bees of Essex. We leave you with this video of two giant killer hornet colonies fighting to the death:
To watch a swarm of bees attack three Indian rappers while they film a music video, click HERE. Killa Beez indeed!
