The Cellar  

Go Back   The Cellar > Images > Image of the Day

Image of the Day Images that will blow your mind - every day. [Blog] [RSS] [XML]

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 10-02-2013, 09:08 AM   #1
Nirvana
Back in 10
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,684
October 2, 2013: Vespa Mandarinia

This Hornet Will Be the Last Thing You See Before You Die

It's no secret that Earth has got a lot of problems and, if you live here, you already know that I am talking about wasps. There are so many wasps here. Each one is a problem. According to recent reports out of China, 21 people have died as a result of wasp stings over the past three months in the province of Shaanxi alone. It might be time to just pack up our bags and return to the moons we came from. Might be time to turn Earth over to the wasps.

The wasps that have been killing people aren't just any old wasps. They're thought to be Vespa mandarinia, or, "Asian giant hornets." Asian giant hornets are the largest hornets in the world. They're the Asia of hornets, in fact. The average one grows to 2.2 inches in length, which is small compared to a car but TERRIFYINGLY HUGE when you consider it is a wasp the size of a meatball. If you never want to feel peace again, you can check out an image of four (dead) queen hornets—which are even bigger than workers and males—, with a hand to give them scale.


This year, the hornet attacks in China have been more frequent than usual; one health official suggested to the AP that warmer temperatures have led to increased breeding among the insects. The mayor of one affected city in Shaanxi announced last week plans to establish a 24-hour emergency response team to combat hornets in light of the recent fatalities. (Wasp season in China runs from May to November.)

Even if you are lucky enough not to die of acute renal failure as a result of Vespa mandarinia's sting, the experience of being being attacked by a swarm of meatball-sized insects (which can travel about 60 miles per day at speeds of nearly 25 mph), sounds, somehow, even more hellish than you would expect. This CNN write-up of survivors' testimonials reads like a catalogue of nightmares:

The more you run, the more they want to chase you," said another victim, whose kidneys were ravaged by the venom.


LINK
__________________
Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.
Nirvana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2013, 09:16 AM   #2
glatt
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 27,717
Those are big suckers.
glatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2013, 01:55 PM   #3
CaliforniaMama
I wonder . . .
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be.
Posts: 1,278
I think I'll stay indoors.
__________________
Take time for silence. You never know what you might hear.
CaliforniaMama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2013, 07:12 PM   #4
xoxoxoBruce
The future is unwritten
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
I'm more concerned about tigers, which I have a better chance of seeing.
__________________
The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.
xoxoxoBruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2013, 10:01 PM   #5
SPUCK
Professor
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,911
You'd need a steel flyswatter!
SPUCK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2013, 10:10 PM   #6
BigV
Goon Squad Leader
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 27,063
An excellent guide for civilians like us for learning how to live with these creatures.

Homeowner Guide to Yellowjackets, Bald-Faced Hornets, and Paper Wasps


eta:

Two weeks ago I was working in Twil's yard and stirred up some yellow jackets. I looked down at the back of my left hand where I felt one stinging me through my glove, swatted it and then noticed that I had several buzzing around me. I ran like hell away from that spot waaaay in the back, swatting and swearing and yelling for help. I looked like those cartoons where the arms and legs are a whirling blur! I was stripping off my clothes as I ran toward the house, went straight into the shower when I was down to my underwear. I had a dozen stings I could count, on my arms, torso, hands by the time I got out of the shower, including one on the back of my head where it climbed into my hair. Very fucking painful.

I've since learned that I likely disturbed and underground nest and running like hell was my best defense. It's a banner year here in the Pacific Northwest for these creatures. The mild conditions helped them thrive, and they're likely to continue to thrive until the first frost, since that's what kills them. Kind of made me want to pour a thousand gallons of liquid nitrogen on the area. Fuuuuuuck that hurt.
__________________
Be Just and Fear Not.

Last edited by BigV; 10-02-2013 at 10:23 PM.
BigV is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2013, 10:58 PM   #7
jimhelm
a beautiful fool
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: 39.939705
Posts: 4,504
To me, the larger the insect, the less frightening it is. If it's big enough that I can get hold of it by the non venomous end, that's even better.

Still, hornets are assholes.
__________________
There's a Shadow just behind me. Shrouding every step I take. Making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. _tool
jimhelm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2013, 03:28 AM   #8
JuancoRocks
Sir Post-A-Lot
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Paradise Valley, Arizona
Posts: 437
May have been done before.......





JR
__________________
"That's just like your opinion man"
JuancoRocks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2013, 06:42 AM   #9
SPUCK
Professor
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,911
Quote:
Originally Posted by BigV View Post
An excellent guide for civilians like us for learning how to live with these creatures.

Homeowner Guide to Yellowjackets, Bald-Faced Hornets, and Paper Wasps


eta:

Two weeks ago I was working in Twil's yard and stirred up some yellow jackets. I looked down at the back of my left hand where I felt one stinging me through my glove, swatted it and then noticed that I had several buzzing around me. I ran like hell away from that spot waaaay in the back, swatting and swearing and yelling for help. I looked like those cartoons where the arms and legs are a whirling blur! I was stripping off my clothes as I ran toward the house, went straight into the shower when I was down to my underwear. I had a dozen stings I could count, on my arms, torso, hands by the time I got out of the shower, including one on the back of my head where it climbed into my hair. Very fucking painful.

I've since learned that I likely disturbed and underground nest and running like hell was my best defense. It's a banner year here in the Pacific Northwest for these creatures. The mild conditions helped them thrive, and they're likely to continue to thrive until the first frost, since that's what kills them. Kind of made me want to pour a thousand gallons of liquid nitrogen on the area. Fuuuuuuck that hurt.
Dude! The scene you paint wouldn't have taken much to turn really r e a l l y nasty. I'm glad you were fleet of feet and not allergic. Wow.

Maybe you should head back with a case of wasp spray. The stuff that shoots 20 feet. I'd also hang up a six pack of those yellow jacket traps. They work astoundingly well. I've seen them fill up full in a week. The traps would certainly carve off some of the population.
SPUCK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2013, 07:18 AM   #10
chrisinhouston
Professor
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 1,857
My brother who lives in Taiwan told me last summer he was having some work done on his roof and the workers found a nest of very large wasps. They carefully removed it and captures most of the wasps. The workers told him their wives would cook the wasps up for dinner.
chrisinhouston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2013, 02:10 PM   #11
Gravdigr
The Un-Tuckian
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Central...KY that is
Posts: 39,517
The pic of the hornets in-hand, does not in any way strike me as genuine.

Not knocking Nirvana, just suspicious of the pic.
__________________


These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.
Gravdigr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2013, 02:13 PM   #12
Gravdigr
The Un-Tuckian
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Central...KY that is
Posts: 39,517
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisinhouston View Post
The workers told him their wives would cook the wasps up for dinner.
Yeah, umm......ƒuck that.
__________________


These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.
Gravdigr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2013, 10:15 PM   #13
CaliforniaMama
I wonder . . .
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: The Left Coast, a pretty good place to be.
Posts: 1,278
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisinhouston View Post
The workers told him their wives would cook the wasps up for dinner.
They do look like they'd be nice and crunchy and why waste good food, especially when it is free!
__________________
Take time for silence. You never know what you might hear.
CaliforniaMama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 03:44 PM   #14
Gravdigr
The Un-Tuckian
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Central...KY that is
Posts: 39,517
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaliforniaMama View Post
...why waste good food...
Because BUGS!!!

__________________


These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.
Gravdigr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2013, 09:15 PM   #15
xoxoxoBruce
The future is unwritten
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 71,105
Because I can, because I don't have to, because you can't make me.
__________________
The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.
xoxoxoBruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:28 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.