Killer hornets sting at least 19 people to death in China

[T-post Tom]

Hong Kong (CNN) -- At least 19 people have been stung to death by hornets -- which may include the world's largest hornet species Vespa mandarinia -- in China's central Shaanxi province in the last three months, according to the city government of Ankang, the apparent epicenter of a recent spate of fatalities and injuries.

A total of 583 people in the area have been stung by hornets since July 1, say city officials. Seventy victims are still recovering in hospitals.

Chen Changlin was hospitalized after being attacked by hornets, while harvesting rice last week.

"I ran and shouted for help, but the hornets chased me about 200 meters, and stung me for more than 3 minutes," he recounted to the state-run China Youth Daily.

Chen said hornets had first swarmed a woman and child working nearby, who then ran towards him. Both later died from the hornets' toxins.

"The more you run, the more they want to chase you," said another victim, whose kidneys were ravaged by the venom. When he was admitted to the hospital, his urine was the color of soy sauce, according to local reports.

Earlier this month, 30 people -- including 23 primary school children aged between six and eight years -- were injured in a hornet attack in Guangxi province, south of Shaanxi. Their teacher, Li Zhiqiang, told his students to hide under tables as he tried to drive away the insects before he lost consciousness. The school's headmaster told local media that most of the injured suffered stings to their heads, necks, hands and feet.

Nearly 60 students and teachers were injured in a separate incident in the province at the start of the month, according to state media.

Experts say a number of reasons may have contributed to the apparent increase in hornet activity, including the region's recent hot, dry weather, land development and hornet sensitivity to the smell of people.

The Asian killer hornet, which is suspected in these incidents, are formidable, carnivorous killers, according to the non-profit Honeybee Conservancy. The species feed their young with the larvae of other insects and use their talons and mandibles to sever the limbs and heads of their prey. The hornet's venom sting is a neurotoxin so powerful that it dissolves human tissue, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

This week's latest incidents spurred the Ankang city government to hold an emergency video call addressing local concerns. Vice Mayor Lu Qi said he would increase investment in regional hornet control. Mayor Xu Qifang added the city would establish a 24-hour emergency hornet response team.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/27/world/...html?hpt=hp_t3

[vailpass]

These things exist? WTF?

[mdchiefsfan]

First thing I though when I read this:
Language

Spoiler!

[Chief Roundup]

Damn what a mug on that bug!

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by Fish

Giant Asian Hornets are ****ing brutal. Like nightmare level.

Wanna see some carnage?



Almost makes you sad... Giant hornets can kill 40 honey bees per minute. Literally decapitating them with one bite or just chopping them in half with their huge jaws.

Nature is brutal... and enemy offspring are delicious.......

Just...****. Poor bees. I can't imagine how I would react if I was swarmed by those mother****ers.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

Just...****. Poor bees. I can't imagine how I would react if I was swarmed by those mother****ers.

I thought killer bees were bad...

[LoneWolf]

There's got to be something that eats these ****ing things. Find out what it is and nurture their population. Circle of life.

[gblowfish]

Well, you know, once you sting one to death, 30 minutes later you're ready to sting another one to death...

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by mdchiefsfan

First thing I though when I read this:
Language

Spoiler!

[IMG]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rbg5Izyh90/Tdb7bglDLhI/AAAAAAAAACg/b962r-URdvg/s1600/****ing-wasp.jpg[/IMG]

In all seriousness though, it's hard to call these things "insects". In fact, if these freaks banded together, they could probably wipe out humanity.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Three7s

In all seriousness though, it's hard to call these things "insects". In fact, if these freaks banded together, they could probably wipe out humanity.

Give everyone a bee suit and a tennis racket and these flying marauders would be ****ing toast.

[threebag]

RIP Hop Sting

[whoman69]

These guys are sneaky

[WhiteWhale]

They can spit too...

[notorious]

Originally Posted by rico

19 people....if there weren't so ****ing many of them, I'd say that China really took one on the chin there.

Nice work.

[teedubya]

I say we release a swarm of these in a session of Congress... or at a Bilderberg conference... or in the home offices of Monsanto. :-D

[teedubya]