Are there killer bees in canada

From: NewsFeed. More from News. Exit polls suggest tight race in Bulgaria parliamentary election. Australia cruise to maiden T20 World Cup title. Most Read. Son of former Libyan leader Gaddafi to run for president. Provincial apiarist Paul van Westendorp says the hornets tend to nest on the ground in wooded areas and that's where people should be cautious. He said the hornets, which can measure about five centimetres in length and have a wingspan the size of a small hummingbird, will likely not pursue people or pets unless a nest is disturbed.

Unlike a honey bee colony which has thousands of bees, said van Westendorp, an Asian giant hornet's nest will have a few hundred dwellers inside. If a nest is disturbed, a colony will initially send out one hornet, then more, but only if the intruder remains there. Instead, van Westendorp says hide in any available cover, such as shrubbery, to make it harder for the hornets to find you.

This particular hornet has a "dagger-like stinging apparatus" said van Westendorp and can sting repeatedly without losing it. In British Columbia, Canada, six hornet sightings were confirmed in , all coming from public reports, said Paul van Westendorp, with the province's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

These hornets are also recognized as a "serious honeybee predator," van Westendorp said. And they can impose ecological pressure on local habitats since they go after prey of all kinds. Asian giant hornets can destroy entire hives of honeybees, critical to crops like raspberries and blueberries because they provide needed pollination. The insects are the world's largest hornet and can grow up to 2 inches long. Government officials and private citizens will help.

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