At the last meeting of the Cherokee Beekeepers Association here in
Canton, GA USA, I took four specimens of the giant european hornet,
*Vespa crabro* to the meeting.  I asked if other beekeepers were seeing
them feeding on bees at their hives.  All said yes; one beekeeper said
that there were not a many as last year.  Those appearing at my hives were
later in the season than in previous years, perhaps due to the very cold
winter that we had.
 
A few points may be of interest:
 
        1.  Another beekeeper reported seeing several at once, chewing
bark off a lilac bush, apparently getting material for building nests.  I
too had seen three at one time removing bark from a lilac bush.  Lilac
would appear to be a choice source for nesting material.
 
        2.  One beekeeper had see a nest at the base of a hollow tree.
The hornets had closed up the opening with their nest material, leaving a
small entrance.
 
        3.  Another beekeeper reported that the hornets had "night
vision".  They had apparently been attracted to a electric light bulb
that was burning at the door to his house at night.  When he went out, he
was stung on the arm by one of the hornets.  He said that while he is
stung often with his honeybees and experiences minor discomfort, the
hornet sting "hurt for three days."
 
The sourwood honeyflow here in north Georgia appears to be exceptionally
good this year.  I'll take off my honey this week, then treat for mites.
I hope that your honeyflows have been or will be good this year.
 
Cordially yours,
 
Jim
 
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  |  James D. Satterfield        |  E-Mail: [log in to unmask]       |
  |                              --------------------------------
  |  258 Ridge Pine Drive         Canton is about 40 mi/64 km   |
  |  Canton, GA 30114, USA        north of Atlanta, Georgia USA |
  |  Telephone (770) 479-4784                                   |
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