The problem
Call it a cross-country cross-pollination: France has a problem, and the US seems to have the solution. French honeybees are under attack by a foreign invader that is wreaking havoc within this vital insect’s population. Meanwhile, across the pond, America is home to a plant that could wipe out the enemy.
The battle began in 2004 when a shipment of pottery from China arrived in France carrying a deadly stowaway: the Asian Hornet. This highly aggressive species of hornet has been called “the hornet from hell” because of its incredibly painful sting – likened to a hot nail being hammered into your skin. At least six deaths have been attributed to the Asian Hornet as well, as its sting can trigger fatal allergic reactions.
In addition to being a menace to humans, this hornet’s favorite meal is honeybees. They invade a hive and essentially wipe it out. This had decimated the French honeybee population and Britain has been warned to be on guard for the swarms of offending insects to cross the border.
Honey production has a far reaching economic impact. Not only is it marketed and sold to the private consumer, but it is widely used in commercial cooking, restaurants, and food manufacturing. The ecological importance of the honeybee is even greater. Honeybees aid in much more than the explosions of beautiful blossoms we see in our gardens and florists each year; they pollinate hundreds of crops as well. From strawberries to nuts, bees are a vital part of a healthy agriculture. Without them, even cattle could be affected, if the alfalfa needed to feed and sustain the cows is not available because of the loss of pollinating bees.
The solution
But now, with the honeybee population in France plummeting, and honey production in serious jeopardy, a French botanist made a chance discovery that could put an end to the menace once and for all. A native North America plant called Sarracenia, with its trumpet-shaped leaves hold a toxic secret: it consumes Asian Hornets. The tubular leaves secrete a pheromone that attracts the hellish hornet. The hornet is then invited down into the tube where it will become trapped and be slowly digested. There is even the added bonus that bees and other non-lethal types of hornets are not attracted to the Sarracenia. This makes it a safe, non-chemical weapon against a non-indigenous invader.
French beekeepers are being urged to install these plants around their hives. They are easily cultivated and experts say they are not harmful nor will they spread uncontrollably. If these warnings are heeded, the Asian Hornet’s days in Europe could be numbered.
For more on insects, like the French Honeybees, check out: 5 Most Poisonous Insects of North America, 5 Helpful Insects of the Pacific Northwest, or 5 Cool Examples of Insect Mimicry.
Featured Image from Dmitry Grigoriev/Unsplash
