As if SARS and the coronavirus weren’t enough, the United
States is now being invaded by giant Asian
Hornets, hailing from—you guessed it—China. These hornets measure nearly
two inches in length and are expected to cost the economy many millions of
dollars per year. What’s more, they will likely have a devastating impact on
the native honeybee population…since they eat them. Oh, and they can potentially
kill people—even those not allergic--
with a single sting, thereby earning the nickname “murder hornets.” So we have
that whole thing going for us, which is nice.
The alien intruders were
accidentally introduced to France from China in 2004 and have been spreading
rapidly throughout Europe and other parts of the world ever since. And now they
have arrived on our shores. Washington state to be precise. The same state that
saw the first coronavirus case. Yet another gift from China.
“Experts”
warn that the Asian Hornets will start swarming soon, as their life cycle begins
in April. They say that the invasion is mainly controlled by destroying the
critter’s nests, an effort which cost France more than $25 million over the
ten-year period from 2006 to 2015, but which isn’t enough to kill off the
species. French scientist and lead research professor Franck Courchamp, head of
a team studying the economic costs to the E.U. and the U.S., said: "The
current study presents only the first estimates of the economic costs resulting
from the Asian Hornet, but definitely more actions need to be taken in order to
handle harmful invasive species - one of the greatest threats to biodiversity
and ecosystem functioning." (To which Democrats and other leftists would
quickly add, “This in no way translates to human immigrants, who are always
nothing but a great positive for the E.U. and the U.S., economically and
culturally!”)
Washington State University
Extension entomologist and invasive species specialist Todd Murray stated that,
once invasive species take a foothold, they cause “forever changes” to
agriculture and ecosystems. Murray added, “We need to teach people how to
recognize and identify this hornet while populations are small, so that we can
eradicate it while we still have a chance.” While we still have a chance?
Sounds ominous.
Upon hearing of the infestation,
CNN & MSNBC immediately cautioned
people not to use the term “Asian Hornets,” as it is insensitive, xenophobic
and racist. They suggested use of the term “undocumented species” instead.
If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Oh, well. Maybe
we can shelter in place until the threat is gone.
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