Discovered a nest of "Murder wasp": the first in the United States – Washington State

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

「殺人スズメバチ」の巣を発見、米国で初か　ワシントン州

2020.10.24 Sat posted at 12:50 JST

（ＣＮＮ） 米ワシントン州農務省（ＷＳＤＡ）の研究者は２２日、同州ブレーンの土地で、「殺人スズメバチ」の異名で知られるオオスズメバチの巣を発見した。米国でオオスズメバチの巣が発見されたのは初とみられている。

ＷＳＤＡの研究チームはまず、新しいわなを使ってオオスズメバチを捕獲し、それぞれの個体に無線追跡装置を装着した。これを手がかりに調査を進めたところ、私有地に立つ木の空洞の中に巣があるのを発見。ＷＳＤＡのメンバーは、数十匹のオオスズメバチが木に出入りするのを目撃した。

オオスズメバチは米国では侵略的外来種に当たり、昨年１２月にワシントン州で初めて発見された。世界最大のスズメバチとされ、ミツバチなどの昆虫を餌にする。少数のオオスズメバチの群れであっても、数時間のうちにミツバチの巣を全滅させる能力を持つという。

通常は地中に巣をつくるが、枯れた木の中に生息している場合もある。

ＷＳＤＡによると、私有地の所有者からは巣の駆除を認められ、必要なら木ごと除去しても良いとの許可を得た。ＷＳＤＡは現地時間２４日に木を取り除く予定。

ワシントン州ではＷＳＤＡが各地に罠を仕掛けるとともに、昆虫学者も目撃情報を追跡して、巣の発見と駆除に取り組んでいる。

Translation

(CNN) Researchers at the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) discovered a nest of the giant hornet, also known as “Murder wasp”, on land in Blaine of Washington on the 22nd. It was believed to be the first time a giant hornet nest had been found in the United States.

The WSDA research team first used a new trap to capture giant hornets and then attached a wireless tracking device to each individual. When proceeded with the investigation using this as a clue, a nest in the hollow of a tree standing on private land was found. WSDA members witnessed dozens of giant hornets entering and exiting the trees.

The giant hornet was an invasive alien species in the United States and was first discovered in Washington State last December. It was said to be the largest wasp in the world and fed on insects such as honeybees. Even a small group of giant hornets was said to have the ability to annihilate bee nests within hours.

It usually nested in the ground, but it could also live in dead trees.

According to WSDA, the owner of the private land allowed the nest to be removed and the tree to be removed if necessary. WSDA would remove the tree on the 24th local time.

In Washington, WSDA had set traps around the country, and entomologists were tracking their sightings, and when nests were found, work would be taken to eliminate them.

              So, probably due climate changes, places previous too cold for the giant hornets have become suitable for them to live and prosper now. I think this is just a tip of an iceberg: many minute changes are taking place in our natural environment everyday without being noticed by us.