Termite onslaught results in fatalities in Marne region, as per entomology expert: 'Extremely uncommon incident'
In a tragic incident, a 67-year-old retiree lost his life after being stung by around ten Asian hornets in Fismes, Marne. The man was mowing his lawn when he rolled over the nest, sending the guardian insects into a frenzy.
Asian hornets, like their counterparts in the insect world, primarily leave their nests in search of food. However, it is when their nest is threatened that they become defensive and aggressive, posing a risk to humans.
François Lasserre, an entomologist and vice-president of the Office for Insects and Their Environment (Opie), advises maintaining a safety zone of about five meters from a nest to avoid close encounters with guardian insects. Beyond this zone, domestic bees, wasps, and hornets, including Asian hornets, are generally harmless, he says.
It is crucial to remember that worker bees, wasps, and hornets, including Asian hornets, are harmless when they are looking for food. Approaching a nest, however, can increase the risk of being attacked by guardian insects.
Each year, about fifteen people die in France due to insect stings, mostly from domestic bees, wasps, and sometimes hornets. Most of these fatalities occur in individuals who suffer from allergies. To be poisoned by insect stings, one would need dozens, sometimes hundreds of stings, making it incredibly rare for someone to die from insect stings if they are in good health.
The Asian hornet, native to Asia, has distinctive features. Unlike many other hornet species, they can build their nests low to the ground, sometimes in hedgerows and brambles. The nests are constructed from a paper-like substance made from wood pulp and saliva, although specific structural details unique to Asian hornet nests are not as well-documented as those of other hornets.
While it is not common for Asian hornets to nest directly in the ground, cases like this serve as a reminder of the importance of caution when working or playing outdoors, especially during the warmer months when these insects are more active. It is recommended to not move when encountering worker bees, wasps, or hornets, including Asian hornets, to avoid provoking them.
This incident highlights the need for continued education and awareness about these insects and the risks they pose. As the number of Asian hornets continues to increase in France, it is essential to understand how to coexist with these creatures safely and respectfully.
- Science and environmental science studies have shown that Asian hornets, when their nest is threatened, can exhibit defensive and aggressive behaviors, sharing similar traits with other insect species.
- Maintaining a distance of at least five meters from an Asian hornet nest, as advised by François Lasserre, an entomologist, can prevent close encounters and potential conflicts with the guardian insects.
- The climate change phenomenon has facilitated the expansion of Asian hornet populations in France, emphasizing the need for increased mental-health awareness and understanding of safe coexistence measures for human well-being and health-and-wellness.
- CBD products, known for their potential therapeutic benefits in skin care, could possibly assist in reducing inflammation and discomfort associated with insect stings, although further scientific research is necessary to verify this claim.
