Latest news with #InvasiveSpeciesCentre
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Meet the murder hornet's Canadian cousin
'Murder hornets' have been making a buzz in the media for years for their immense size and deadly behaviour. Also called the northern giant hornet (formerly the Asian giant hornet), these terrifying insects were first detected in Canada in 2019, near Nanaimo, B.C. This invasive species poses a huge threat to Canada's ecosystems, as they are known to quickly destroy entire bee colonies, which are essential in maintaining healthy ecosystems. RELATED: Each summer, people across Canada will report murder hornet sightings. However, experts are quick to clarify that the sightings people commonly report are actually European hornets—a species that was introduced to North America over 160 years ago and has become part of Canada's natural ecosystem. While they were introduced, this does not make them invasive as they have naturally integrated with the environment and are not harmful. Both insect species belong to the family Vespa, but there are some big differences between the two. Murder hornets, formally called northern giant hornets, are invasive to Canada and pose a major risk to native bee colonies and our ecosystems. (Yasunori Koide/Wikimedia Commons) CC-BY-SA 4.0 European hornets versus murder hornets European hornets are found in Eastern Canada and can look scarily similar to the murder hornet. They are much larger than the yellowjackets that we are used to seeing each summer but are actually a lot smaller than murder hornets. They have a similar striped pattern on their abdomens to murder hornets, but the key difference is that their abdomens are yellow, whereas the murder hornets are more yellow-orange. SEE ALSO: Unlike murder hornets, European hornets don't pose a threat to other native insect species and ecosystems. While they do sometimes eat bees, they don't destroy entire colonies and can actually provide bees protection from other predatory insects, such as wax moths. European hornets can be found in Canada and are often mistaken for the murder hornet (northern giant hornet). (Dr. Guido Bohne/iNaturalist) CC-BY-SA 4.0 European hornets also create paper nests similar to those made by paper wasps and yellowjackets. Conversely, murder hornets build their nests underground around tree roots. Like any other stinging insect, the European hornet can get aggressive when you invade its territory or grab at it, but they otherwise try to avoid interacting with people. They do have a soft spot for sweet fruits, though, and you may see more of them buzz around you in the late summer and early fall as their natural food sources begin to dwindle. Despite their scary appearance, European hornets are important for our ecosystems, providing natural pest control and pollination services. If you believe you have spotted a murder hornet in Canada and are able to take a photo as proof, you can report it to the Invasive Species Centre. Thumbnail image credit to Judy Gallagher/iNaturalist CC-BY-SA 4.0
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
This massive invasive fish with a voracious appetite was just found in Ontario. Here's why it's a problem and what's being done about it
A massive invasive fish species with a voracious appetite was found recently in Lake Huron, raising concerns for native fish and aquatic life. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed a recreational angler reported finding a dying grass carp floating in Baie du Doré on Lake Huron on July 14. Baie du Doré is about a 10-minute drive north of Tiverton, Ont. DFO spokesperson Sam Di Lorenzo said the federal agency collected the fish and confirmed it was a triploid (sterile) female — meaning it cannot reproduce. 'This was one of the largest grass carp specimens DFO has processed,' Di Lorenzo added. 'It was 1,230 mm in total length, 780 mm in girth and 26 kg in weight.' Since 2012, DFO's Invasive Carp Program has processed 34 grass carp collected in Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. The fish captured July 14 is the third grass carp captured in the Canadian waters of Lake Huron since surveillance began in 2013. The previous two captures were made by commercial fishers near Sarnia in 2017 and 2018. Both were also triploid (sterile). This photo shows a live grass carp. Ontario's Invasive Species Centre notes online that grass carp is one of four invasive Asian carp species threatening to invade the Great Lakes. The others are bighead carp, black carp and silver carp. These fish were introduced to the southern United States in the late 1960s and 1970s for use as biological control in aquaculture facilities, the centre adds. Of the four species, the grass carp is considered the most imminent threat to the Great Lakes. The Invasive Species Centre notes researchers have found evidence of natural reproduction in the Sandusky and Maumee rivers, both tributaries of Lake Erie in the U.S. While there's no evidence of an established population in Ontario's Great Lakes, monitoring continues. The Invasive Species Centre says grass carp mostly eat aquatic vegetation and can consume up to 40 per cent of their body weight in food daily. They digest about half of the plant material they consume and expel the remaining material, which pollutes the water and can promote algal blooms, the Invasive Species Centre adds. Just 10 adult grass carp per hectare can reduce wetland vegetation by up to 50 per cent. If the fish becomes established in the Great Lakes, it could pose a significant threat to 33 fish species and 18 bird species. Di Lorenzo said DFO's invasive carp program conducts early detection and response sampling every year in more than 30 high-risk tributaries and wetlands on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes, including multiple rivers that flow into Lake Huron. 'These waterbodies were determined to have suitable spawning and feeding habitat for invasive carps using scientific modelling,' she said. The invasive carp program includes an outreach team working to educate the public on the impacts of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes and the ways to identify and report the species, Di Lorenzo added. DFO will complete additional early detection surveillance activities near Baie du Doré throughout 2025. If you think you've captured a grass carp, you should take a photo, record your location and contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada to report it. You can also report it to the Invading Species Hotline by calling 1-800-563-7711 , via email at info@ , or online at . If you're unable to reach someone directly, do not release the fish back to the water, Di Lorenzo said. Under the federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations, it's illegal to introduce an aquatic species into a body of water where it is not native, unless authorized by federal, provincial or territorial law, Di Lorenzo added. Learn more about invasive carp and DFO's efforts to prevent their introduction and spread online . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Science
- Hamilton Spectator
Murder hornets can decapitate 40 bees in 1 minute. Are they in Ontario?
While Ontario has never had a confirmed sighting of a 'murder hornet,' experts say it's possible they could find their way here. Murder hornets, officially known as the northern giant hornet and previously Asian giant hornets, are one of the largest hornet species in the world. Hornets are a subset of wasps. Murder hornets are known to 'aggressively attack humans or animals' if they get too close to a nest or a honey bee colony being attacked, according to the province of Ontario. Orkin entomologist Alice Sinia said murder hornets kill bees by cutting off their heads. 'They can actually decapitate 40 bees in one minute,' she said. 'They can really easily wipe out hives, big colonies in a matter of hours.' In addition, Sinia notes their venom is very toxic — three to four times more potent than a regular wasp — which means murder hornets can pose serious, even life-threatening, health risks. Murder hornet queens can grow to be five centimetres in size, with a wingspan of 7.5 centimetres, according to the Invasive Species Centre — an organization working to prevent the introduction and spread of high-risk invasive species in Canada. The giant hornet gorges itself on other insects and can kill a human. ➡ Subscribe: #NatGeoWILD #Wasps #BiteStingKill About Bite, Sting, Kill: Bite, Sting, Kill is exploring the ways animals can kill with venom. About National Geographic Wild: National Geographic Wild is a place for all things animals and for animal-lovers alike. Take a journey through the animal kingdom with us and discover things you never knew before, or rediscover your favorite animals! Get More National Geographic Wild: Official Site: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: The World's Biggest Wasp | Bite, Sting, Kill Nat Geo Wild Typically, Sinia said people confuse murder hornets with one of the largest hornets in Ontario: the European hornet. 'They look almost the same,' she said. Though, unlike murder hornets, European hornets have different colouring, aren't as aggressive and don't interact with humans as much. 'People don't see them (European hornets) that commonly,' said Sinia. 'But once they see it, then people become alarmed because they are kind of big and then they think, 'Oh, this must be the murder hornet.'' European hornets are about 2.5-3.5 centimetres — but are still much smaller than murder hornets. The misidentification has led to false sightings of murder hornets in Ontario. The Asian Giant Hornet is often confused for the European Hornet, which leads to many false sightings. Here is a side-by-side comparison. The only area in Canada where the murder hornets have positively been identified has been in B.C. In September 2019, the northern giant hornet was first discovered in Canada in the Nanaimo, B.C. region. 'Researchers aren't sure how the hornets got into Canada, but it's possible they arrived from Asia through packaging material or hiding under imported gardening pots,' the Invasive Species Centre says. That same year, the B.C. government, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and local beekeepers destroyed the nest on the west coast. In May 2020, northern giant hornets were found in Langley, B.C. — approximately 100 kilometres away from where they were found in Nanaimo. In that case, local beekeepers and the CFIA were able to eradicate the nest. Authorities continue to monitor for new sightings. However, the Invasive Species Centre cautions it can be challenging to find them early because they live underground in tunnels or spaces under rocks and homes. Although murder hornets have been spotted in Canada, Sinia said it doesn't mean they've established themselves here or made their way to other provinces and territories yet. 'We have to be on the lookout for this wasp because if it made its way in B.C., it's possible that it can be easily brought into Ontario or maybe another province,' she said. Once a species finds itself in a new place, the question becomes: can it establish itself? If given the chance, Sinia said it's possible murder hornets could establish in Canada as the climate of the countries where they originate are similar enough to Canada's. 'Never say never,' she said. The Invasive Species Centre agrees with that assessment. 'While these hornets have only been found (and eradicated) on the west coast of Canada to date, climate models show that southern Canada is well-suited to host them should they get past the Rocky Mountains or be accidentally introduced,' the organization says on their website . At this time, it's unknown if murder hornets can survive an Ontario winter. The province of Ontario explains the murder hornets are native to temperate and tropical regions in China, Korea, Japan and northern India. 'Northern giant hornets are predatory as they hunt insects for food, including honey bees,' the province says . 'These hornets pose a serious threat to Ontario's agriculture and native biodiversity, including resident bees and wasps. They can also destroy honey bee colonies in less than 24 hours.' Sinia said people should be vigilant and report suspected sightings — and, if found, should be eradicated right away. Murder hornets can be confused with other types of hornets such as the European hornet, the bald-faced hornet, the yellowjacket and the Eastern Cicada Killer and more. Because wasps are most active during the summer months, it's likely if a murder hornet is going to be spotted — it will likely be around this time of year. Sinia said the first giveaway for a murder hornet is the size. The murder hornet is much bigger than the European hornet. European hornets tend to have yellow colouring with black dot markings and stripes, while murder hornets will be orange. The body is solid black and has orange stripes on it. Insects that resemble Asian giant hornets (centre). The European hornet is at the top right. The province of Ontario says northern giant hornets can't be verified without a specimen or a photograph. Identification must be confirmed by a specialist such as an entomologist or taxonomist. If you think you've seen one in Ontario, report it using an online reporting form . You'll need a clear image of the suspected hornet. Ensure the image is in colour and in focus. Photograph the back and side of the insect. For technical issues, contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 . The Invasive Species Centre outlines where you can report invasive species across Canada . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. 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Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Menace to society: This bug keeps coming back for more of your garden every summer
If you spot a metallic green-and-copper coloured beetle in your garden, you may want to take some precautions to protect your recently planted flowers and turf. This is the infamous Japanese beetle, first discovered in North America in southern New Jersey in 1916, and now comfortably ensconced as a well-known resident in southern Ontario. So much so that reports are beginning to trickle in — as they do like clockwork every summer around this time — of turf fields with large brown patches and plant leaves being completely stripped. This beetle doesn't cause any agricultural damage, which is probably why it isn't classified as a prohibited or restricted invasive species, such as the mountain pine beetle that decimates pine forests, or the floating primrose‑willow, a plant that overwhelms aquatic ecosystems. Instead, it is considered an invasive plant pest with a distinctly suburban palette. 'They love roses, they love hostas, they love things that people put in their gardens. And part of their life cycle is that they love lawns,' says David Dutkiewicz, an entomology technician with the non-profit Invasive Species Centre, about a bug that is seldom found in the countryside. A day in the life of this bug involves chomping through your plant's leaves or destroying your lawn while in larval form. Dutkiewicz says that the summer galvanizes them into activity. By now, they've emerged from the ground and are ravenous, so they go about 'skeletonizing' leaves by eating all the fleshy parts and leaving the veins behind, while also devouring flower petals. The second phase of their two-part assault on gardens is in the fall, when the adults lay eggs. 'It takes a number of days to several weeks for the eggs to mature and turn into larvae which then feed on the grass,' says Dutkiewicz. 'After wintering underground, they start to once again feed on grass during spring when the ground begins to thaw,' he adds. So, if you see large brown patches in your emerging lawn, you know that these critters have been hard at work, munching on the roots of your turf while in larval form. There are a few things you can do, though, to minimize the impact of these bugs. The simplest — and cheapest — option is to keep a can filled with water and soap and knock them off a leaf and into it, says Dutkiewicz, causing the soap to gum up their lungs. Another, is to buy traps available in hardware stores that utilize the beetle's sex pheromones to lure them into a 'kill liquid.' Yet, nothing works quite as well as a predator, for which there are no known natural ones in Ontario. In Japan, these beetles are kept in check by parasitic flies and wasps, as well as predatory insects and birds. However, you can introduce one in your Hamilton backyard in the form of a minuscule roundworm called a nematode — an unassuming garden superhero. 'They usually look like a dry powder, but when you spread them out and water them, they begin to attack the larvae and the grubs they find and effectively kill them,' says Dutkiewicz. You can buy them in any hardware store or garden centre for a late summer or early fall application in order to target the grub phase of the beetle. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
'Once you see it, you can't unsee it': The 'road-trip ruiner' plant is spreading
It's found along highways, ditches, and shorelines in southern Ontario, and it can grow to staggering heights, sometimes towering more than five metres above the ground. It's invasive phragmites, dubbed "Ontario's worst invasive plant" by Agriculture and Agrifood Canada in 2005. Conservationists say that once you see it, you can't unsee it -- but there are a few things you can do to stop its spread. File photo of phragmites (via Canva Pro) But first, a bit about this dangerous species. Phragmites (Phragmites australis australis) is described by the Invasive Species Centre as "an invasive grass with blue-green leaves and large, fluffy seedheads" that forms in tall, dense stands. It prefers wet environments and places where water accumulates. Once settled it outcompetes native plants, hinders recreational activities, reduces visibility for motorists due to its towering height, and increases wildfire risk. It's originally from Europe. In southern Ontario, seeds spread by hitching a ride on boats, bicycles, hiking boots, and ATVs, among other things. File photo highlighting how tall phragmites can get.(JM Gilbert/Ministry of Natural Resources) The Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program has dubbed the plant the 'road trip ruiner' and is urging the public to take action to stop the spread of phragmites this summer. The joint initiative by the Invasive Species Centre, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and other provincial partners says people can help by: Learning how to identify invasive phragmites. Cleaning recreational equipment (hiking boots, bikes, ATVs/UTVs, and boats) before moving to another location. Reporting phragmites sightings through EDDMapS or iNaturalist. If you have phragmites on your property, do not mow it: this can help spread seeds. Ontario Invasive Species Council has put together a PDF guide on how to manage phragmites (disposal recommendations start at page 62 of the linked document). Oh, and by the way: goats love phragmites. If you're looking for an environmentally-friendly way to rid yourself of the plants, consider hiring a herd to mow down the problem. Your lawn will be phragmite free, the goats will be fed, and you'll get to hang out with friendly farm animals for a bit. Everybody wins.
