Hornet dilemma

[ShinySideUp]

My neighbour brought a European hornet to show me that he had found, hiding in an upturned plant pot and was presumably starting it's winter wait.

He asked me what he should do with it and I found myself a little unsure. I know they take bees but then wasps take bees too. I also know that they take a lot of other nasties in the spring and are probably quite good for the garden then.

Do I kill it or let it go? The question is rather moot now as I let fate decide. I tipped it out on the ground, if it flew quickly it was safe if it was too slow it was dead: It was too slow.

But in general if I catch Euro hornets in my AH trap should I release or kill?

 

[Erichalfbee]

My neighbour brought a European hornet to show me that he had found, hiding in an upturned plant pot and was presumably starting it's winter wait.

He asked me what he should do with it and I found myself a little unsure. I know they take bees but then wasps take bees too. I also know that they take a lot of other nasties in the spring and are probably quite good for the garden then.

Do I kill it or let it go? The question is rather moot now as I let fate decide. I tipped it out on the ground, if it flew quickly it was safe if it was too slow it was dead: It was too slow.

But in general if I catch Euro hornets in my AH trap should I release or kill?

Release
Swallows take more bees than our native hornet

 

[Karol]

Queens settling in for hibernation will always be slow.

 

[Bakerbee]

Our neighbour found two european hornet nests this summer, so we have had a few bothering our hives. I too was unsure so did a little reading and found there are more benefits to the enviroment than not so decided to leave them be.

 

[Finman]

.
Wasps are useful bugs. They clean lots of harmfull insects from garden and from nature. Aphids are their important food.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Let them live, European hornets deserve to be left aone, rspecially nowadays with every clown putting out traps and not managing them responsibly.

 

[ShinySideUp]

OK, well that's told me but unfortunately too late for this particular Euro hornet, should I find another I'll let it go and tell my neighbour that's what he should do. We live and learn I suppose but it's hard enough getting to know about bees without having to learn about every other stinging, flying insect too.

 

[Swarm]

I have Hornets near my apiary, not a problem they take more Wasps than Bees.

 

[ShinySideUp]

they take more Wasps than Bees.

I wish I'd known that this morning, I'm starting feel really guilty now.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Don't - just learn for next time

 

[Anduril]

My neighbour brought a European hornet to show me that he had found, hiding in an upturned plant pot and was presumably starting it's winter wait.

He asked me what he should do with it and I found myself a little unsure. I know they take bees but then wasps take bees too. I also know that they take a lot of other nasties in the spring and are probably quite good for the garden then.

Do I kill it or let it go? The question is rather moot now as I let fate decide. I tipped it out on the ground, if it flew quickly it was safe if it was too slow it was dead: It was too slow.

But in general if I catch Euro hornets in my AH trap should I release or kill?

This may be of interest https://youtu.be/BYQ7RDgDDTA

 

[beeno]

European hornets have spent all summer hawking my bees, so I am not well pleased with having them around. I reduced the nests in size to give my bees a respite. Lots of people in my locale are complaining about them. The wasps are becoming very vicious attacking bees outside the entrances as well. Glad I only have full colonies now.

 

[Karol]

This may be of interest https://youtu.be/BYQ7RDgDDTA

Interesting video. My understanding of wasps, and I have posted this on the forum before, is that they don't hunt or forage within the immediate vicinity of their nest which presumably is so as not to attract predators. That being the case it is likely that the hornets in the video are not hunting honeybees from the nearby hives simply because of their close proximity. Hornets specialize in hunting wasps so will be reducing the wasp population that might otherwise be interested in the hives. Bit of a win win situation. Obviously VC take bees and other insects but in my experience, VC take comparatively few honeybees all told. An average hornet nest carries only 300 to 400 adult hornets max.

 

[Karol]

European hornets have spent all summer hawking my bees, so I am not well pleased with having them around. I reduced the nests in size to give my bees a respite. Lots of people in my locale are complaining about them. The wasps are becoming very vicious attacking bees outside the entrances as well. Glad I only have full colonies now.

The wasp problem is likely to intensify in late autumn as other sources of carbohydrates disappear. Vigilance will be key.

 

[beeno]

The bees are fighting off the wasps valiantly, but I have noticed that there are one or two bee casualties in these dog fights whilst the wasp flies away.

 

[Barbarian]

The wasps killed off a nuc.
When their attention switched to a full strength hive, I installed a robber screen. It seems to have worked.
Nice to see the bees dragging out a dead wasp.

 

[Karol]

Correctly constructed tunnel entrances are a must. These can vary in design from cable trunking fixed to the outside of nucs to routed entrance blocks.