A new hornet has buzzed in to the Beehive State and threatens to shove out native hornets and other wasps--
not to mention mess up your summer picnic!
Hornets, wasps and bees always seem to invade the summer right after the mosquitoes have left.
This year there's a new hornet around, and it packs a powerful sting.
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More Info
- Description: About 1 inch long with the head and middle part red-brown. The abdomen is black with yellow markings.
- Resembles a yellow jacket, but is larger.
- Introduced into the U.S. at New York about
1840.
- Inhabits portions of all states east
of the Mississippi River plus several in the west.
- Rarely build nests
that are free hanging or in unprotected areas.
- A mature colony will contain 1500 to 3000 cells in 6 to 9 combs.
- There usually are 200 to 400 workers during the peak population.
- Can fly at night.
- Nests may have more than one entrance.
Links
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News Specialist Jed Boal has the story.
A European Hornet has moved into Utah.
It's building nests near our homes, eating our food and expanding its turf.
This badder stinging bug is invading your backyard, and it looks like it plans to stay.
It's numbers have grown in the last few years.
Dr. Jay Karren, a Utah State University entimologist, first showed us the hornet expanding its nest at the library in North Logan.
It looks a lot like a yellow jacket--a different species of wasp.
The problem is, this hornet is aggressive and threatens to displace the stinging insects native to Utah.
Jay Karren/U.S.U. Entimologist: THESE COME IN BEING MORE AGGRESSIVE, USE UP ALL THE FOOD SUPPLY. SO, THESE THEN MOVE TO SOMEPLACE ELSE TRYING TO FIND THEIR FOOD.
Take a look at this nest--that's the home of the native bald-faced hornet. It builds in trees away from our homes.
The European hornet builds on our homes, under the eaves, in the porch.
And it stings without provocation.
IT SORTA HURTS BUT ITCHES MOSTLY.
Jed Boal/Eyewitness News: A SALT LAKE CITY HOMEOWNER FOUND THIS HORNETS NEST ON HER BACK FENCE AND SAID THE NEST HAD DOUBLED IN SIZE IN ABOUT A WEEK. SHE HADN'T BEEN STUNG, BUT, SHE CALLED A PEST CONTROL COMPANY TO GET RID OF IT.
I SEE THIS ONE MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OTHER LATELY.
Ken Petersen says he knocks down three or four of the nests each week.
But, the hornet is on the move.
Kenneth Petersen/Truly Nolen Pest Control: THEY'LL START THE COLONY, AND IT PROGRESSES, THEY'LL MOVE ON AND START ANOTHER COLONY. THEY'RE KIND OF BRANCHING OUT.
The hornets in this yard started a second colony about a third the size of the original.
The entimologist doesn't yet know how much trouble they may cause. He's keeping an eye on them.
Jay Karren/U.S.U. Entimologist: IF THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THEM THAT IS MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THAT THEY WILL GET INSIDE WHERE OUR NATIVE SPECIES DON'T, THEN THEY MIGHT BE OF HARM TO US.
You can knock out small nests with wasp spray you buy at the store.
Try to do it early in the morning when the hornets are less active, and stand back after your spray.
Our photographer was stung this afternoon shooting the story. They are aggressive.
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