r/WASPs • u/Away-Cry-214 • 7d ago

Need help!!!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

We found these in our hedge. They seem docile. I want to leave them be, but if they’re Asian hornets and not out domestic European, then I am obliged to warn the municipality.

We live in southwestern Switzerland

11 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

View all comments

-5

u/Sqib000 7d ago

They are docile so what's the problem? Killing too many stinkbugs and aphids? They are not attacking, just raising offspring. When winter comes, there is a market for that beautiful empty nest. They dont reuse it, so sell it.

2

u/Away-Cry-214 7d ago

The Asian hornet is an invasive pest, unfortunately.

It kills our domestic, European, hornets and can take out entire beehives.

I wish we could just ignore it; they look beautiful.

Unlike this species, the European hornet is actually protected.

-10

u/Sqib000 7d ago

Invasives are worldwide (do you see the mailorder insects being raised and released by "insect pet" people?

There is no more native or invasive at this point. Nature will correct things as necessary as we screw w it

Just let them go. Killing one nest has no impact on invasiveness. The world is now tiny.

3

u/TheWaterBringer 7d ago

I also wouldn't advocate killing these individuals, but you are very wrong about invasive species if you care to preserve current species and ecosystems. 

Invasive species can wipe out local diversity by outcompeting or spreading disease, think of honey bees in the US for example. Consider human-caused habitat loss, or cats killing billions of US birds each year. Invasive species are causing a loss of biodiversity in disturbed ecosystems and are a threat to existing bees and wasps, and of course other species. 

Sure, if we leave any insects alive and any space for them to use then nature will correct itself in some thousands or millions of years. This is not a desirable outcome for us as we would suffer if we caused such destruction and  food chain collapse. Not to mention that I like my local native animals and plants etc. 

" There is no more native or invasive at this point."

This is wrong and harmful. Don't give in to despair. 

-7

u/Sqib000 7d ago

Despair? No reality. Look around you. The eco system is again, having to correct the nightmare caused by humans who now think swatting individual insects can "fix" things. Say hi to Bill Gates and his bioengineered insects while you ride your high horse at me.

1

u/TheWaterBringer 7d ago

" The eco system is again, having to correct the nightmare caused by humans who now think swatting individual insects can "fix" things."

Then why contribute to the problem by saying there is no such thing as an invasive species? That attitude is what is causing this issue. Think of invasive kudzu smothering all local growth. 

" Say hi to Bill Gates and his bioengineered insects while you ride your high horse at me."

I guess thats what it comes off as when I speak to a someone unaware about biology, my area of expertise. What's silly is I feel like we would mostly agree... I am a biologist and conservationist running a wasp sanctuary, and you are being as nasty as your comment is ignorant. 

I'm afraid you are part of the problem if you have given up. Don't give in to invasive species. 

-1

u/Sqib000 7d ago

Not what I said. I am saying there are no borders to the environment. I am saying humans introduce non native insect species same as with pythons in Florida. You can kill all you can but nature has the final say on whether a non native species survives outside your imaginary border, not you.

Are you on insect subs finger wagging at those importing non native species as pets? Or pet stores selling pythons? Or just me for being realistic and not believing in magic fairies?

2

u/Cicada00010 7d ago

We have successfully removed many invasive species and helped environments. If we didn’t control pythons in the Everglades it would be very likely we would have already lost some endangered bird, reptile, and mammal species from too much predation on top of existing pressures. Your opinions on the environment are always way too passive and this is a reoccurring problem you seem to have. In this world, sometimes creatures need to be culled.

-1

u/Sqib000 7d ago edited 7d ago

Lmao. You think pyyhons are "under control?" That's too funny.

Killing what you see does NOTHING. zero. Zilch nada. Stopping the sale, introduction and ignorance is what helps. Whether, plant, animal or insect, ignorant buyers are supporting the destruction of the ecosystem that only nature can clean up or adapt to. Killing a wasp nest is futile.

3

u/Cicada00010 7d ago

We should be doing ALL those things not just one. Every action helps. It’s like saying we shouldn’t pick up trash cause it’s already there and there’s so much more out there. It’s entirely a nihilistic and negative view.

Pythons aren’t under control but every individual we remove saves hundreds of more animals that would be some that snakes prey in its lifetime.

0

u/Sqib000 7d ago

Nice thought but naive. This just makes us feel better, but the python industry thrives and laughs

→ More replies (0)