Invasive hornet a buzzkill for local beekeeping industry

Authorities captured a bee-napping in action.  

It’s a sticky situation as the honey bees hold on but the hornet just won’t buzz off. 

This little bee was not so lucky.  It's been a literal buzzkill at this apiary in Ipan, Talofofo.

“At one point, we had killed 25 hornets in less than an hour,” said Jen Nelson, Greenscape Owner and local beekeeper.

“My husband is a horticulturalist and he got into beekeeping because he really just loves bees,” Nelson said. 

These busy bees have a very important job pollinating crops and producing byproducts like honey but it's threatened by the greater banded hornet which was introduced to Guam in 2016. 

“At first it wasn’t a problem. But last year and this year, it's really raised to a state of an emergency situation that if you’re not watching your hives, if you’re not an active beekeeper and staying on top of controlling the hornets, they will get into your hives and kill all your bees,” added Nelson.  

Normally, the bee hives look like this. but in recent weeks, they look like this as they guard the entrance against the invasive hornets.

Entomologist Chris Rosario said it's the bee colony’s first line of defense. 

“We normally see this behavior with Asian honey bees. But these European honey bees are quickly learning that creating that mat will prevent any of those hornets from coming in and grabbing their brood, larva and pupa as well,” said Rosario. 

He said the hornets are causing major distress among local beekeepers and potentially destroying the market for farming local honey. 

“The beekeepers are basically going to have to kill the hornets on the outside otherwise it's going to cause the bees to leave the colony,” said Rosario. 

Agriculture’s Biosecurity Division and the Guam Beekeepers Association are actively exterminating any nests. 

“Any member of the community that does find a hornet’s nest, please I do recommend calling the pest hotline because you could have a local beekeeper around your area that may be affected by these hornets,” added Rosario. 

Meantime, here in Ipan, a trap is set up and already holds more than a dozen hornets and Nelson continues to keep a watchful eye on her bees. 

“We’re asking the USDA for help. We’re asking scientists and researchers to study greater banded hornets and control them to not have this problem on Guam. Because we do love our bees,” said Nelson.