European hornets, what are they good for?

[the watcher]

Absolutely nothing. So far my bee hive is handling them one at a time. I still have to keep them off the hummingbird feeder, they are about half the size of a hummer but very aggressive. This one took 3 hists from the salt gun.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

Yeah, have seen some vids on Youtube about how hornets and wasps are starting to go after beehives very aggressively nowadays.

Good thing bees have multiple ways to handle intruders.

Good luck, I love bees, hope they stay safe.

 

[1srelluc]

I was always impressed by what we call "wood hornets" or Cicada Killers...They're huge!

I think that they are really a Wasp though....Never had one bother me.

Mostly I see them buzzing around the bases of oak trees and usually solitary.

 

[the watcher]

The Europeans aren't quite as big as the cicada killers and have more yellow on their abdomen. I love to see them going in the holes in the ground and dragging up bugs.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Those ones in the OP destroy my apples and peaches. They eat em all the way down to the core on the tree. Really pisses me off.

 

[MayorQuimby]

Good thing bees have multiple ways to handle intruders.

I really doubt honey-bees and bumble-bees can win in a fight against hornets or wasps. These are really really bad(ass?) insects.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

I really doubt honey-bees and bumble-bees can win in a fight against hornets or wasps. These are really really bad(ass?) insects.

I watch bee videos on YT, and one guy had murder hornets harassing his beehives.
Although bees can take on intruders of any size, when the enemy comes in hoards, then the bees will lose.

The issue is, making sure that there's enough deterrents for the enemies of bees for them to have to go thru before the bees.

Are you on any bee chat threads or do you know of any other bee keepers?

You might ask some professional beekeepers and bee wranglers how to best protect them from the enemies.

 

[whitehall]

Actually they aren't aggressive and their size doesn't indicate their stinging potential but they pack a punch if you roll over in bed on top of one. Unless you are allergic the sting is no worse than a yellow jacket.

 

[Quasar44]

Actually they aren't aggressive and their size doesn't indicate their stinging potential but they pack a punch if you roll over in bed on top of one. Unless you are allergic the sting is no worse than a yellow jacket.

I hate these MF !!!

 

[petro]

 

[whitehall]

Bumblebees can be a pest just by being in your face. A .22 revolver with snake loads can blow the suckers out of the sky. Just be careful of the background.

 

[the watcher]

I think my first colony is doing ok, looks like they have enough stores for the winter. I am learning about mites and beetles, but they have been doing this longer than I have. They need a supply of water, and there's a little creek, so that looks ok. I know they tell each other in the hive where food and water is but I didn't realize how fast they were. I was in the hot tub relaxing a little and one came up and was sipping from a cup holder. She left and 15 minutes later 3 more showed up, and then more came. The hive is about 100 yards from the house, so that was pretty fast. Them girls do work together.