Hazardous Hornets with Paul van Westendorp. Animal Health Insights, Ep. 14, Mar. 11, 2022

In 2019, a “new bug on the block” showed up in British Columbia, and an extensive effort was launched to locate and eradicate an intimidating non-native hornet species. You’ve likely heard of these Asian Giant Hornets as they were all over the news – a big wasp – with strong stingers and the buzzy potential to harm native pollinator species and honeybees in Canada. Paul van Westendorp, the provincial apiculturalist or “honeybee expert” for the province of British Columbia, helped to identify this species of wasp upon its discovery. Along with colleagues, Paul worked to locate and eradicate a hornet nest near Nanaimo, B.C., and continues to monitor for this insect species in B.C.

Links of Interest:

• B.C. Ministry of Agriculture Pest Alert: Asian Giant Hornet
• Information on Paul van Westendorp and his work
• Asian Giant Hornet information from Ontario.ca
• Asian Giant Hornet information from Invasive Species Centre
• Reporting Invasive Species Sightings by Province