Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C., Washington team up against giant hornets

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Mar, 2021 11:02 PM
  • B.C., Washington team up against giant hornets

Officials with the British Columbia and Washington state agriculture departments along with U.S. federal agencies are teaming up to trap, track and destroy invasive Asian giant hornets, which threaten honeybees.

The so-called murder hornets have been found on both sides of the border, in B.C.'s Fraser Valley, on Vancouver Island and in Blaine, Wash., where a nest containing nearly 200 queens was discovered and destroyed last year.

A full news conference on the governments' plans is set for Wednesday, but Washington's Agriculture Department says in a release it's preparing to bait and trap this year along with a strong emphasis on help from the public.

The release says the focus in Washington will be in Whatcom County, where Asian giant hornets were detected in 2019 and 2020, while B.C.'s surveillance program will include traps where hornets have been found.

The hornets are considered a serious honeybee predator with a large orange head, mandibles and a wingspan up to seven centimetres.

The statement says public reports have been crucial for locating the pests and both B.C. and Washington are urging residents to be on the lookout.

The hornet's life cycle begins in April when queens emerge from hibernation, to feed on sap and fruit and look for nesting grounds.

Washington is encouraging residents in several counties to participate in trapping starting in July using orange juice or a brown sugar-based bait.

MORE National ARTICLES

1506 new cases over 3 days

1506 new cases over 3 days
The province is targeting indoor religious gatherings by April. Details will come soon according to Dr. Henry.

1506 new cases over 3 days

AstraZeneca shots go to priority workers in B.C.

AstraZeneca shots go to priority workers in B.C.
They include sites where poultry, fruit and fish are processed as well as agricultural operations and large industrial camps where close living quarters make isolation and quarantine difficult, contributing to outbreaks.

AstraZeneca shots go to priority workers in B.C.

119 dogs surrendered from northern B.C. property

119 dogs surrendered from northern B.C. property
The dogs surrendered include terriers, Shih Tzus, papillons and other small-breed crosses that are being treated for an array of medical needs, from severely matted coats to dental, eye and nutrition issues.

119 dogs surrendered from northern B.C. property

Girls dies after school stabbing

Girls dies after school stabbing
Mounties say the girl was airlifted to hospital, where she died of her injuries, and her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Girls dies after school stabbing

Lawmakers call for criminal probe of MindGeek

Lawmakers call for criminal probe of MindGeek
The demand, spelled out in a letter Monday to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, comes two weeks after a similar request by more than 100 victims of exploitive content they say was posted to websites owned by MindGeek.

Lawmakers call for criminal probe of MindGeek

Judge in Meng case hears arguments on evidence

Judge in Meng case hears arguments on evidence
Meng is accused of misrepresenting Huawei's control over technology company Skycom in a presentation to HSBC, putting the bank at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Judge in Meng case hears arguments on evidence