Hi, and welcome to Taiga Bonzai, in this article we continue trying to make sense of mankind’s actions both past and present and the consequences that have happened. Those that will inevitably occur at some future juncture is not a question of if, it is a question of when.

Introduction – the Microbe as we have stated can exist in a single-cell form or a colony like bacteria and fungi and although they are often associated with dirt and disease, most are beneficial. But as we are aware there exist those microbes, fungi and pathogens that have lethal potential. The result is human infectious diseases, mayhem and death. Evidence shows that mankind has shaped the world in his own volition, but the outcome is questionable.

The stowaways – on December 7th 1941 at 7:55 a.m. (Hawaii time) the Imperial Japanese Navy, under the command of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto attacked the American naval base at Pearl harbour.

According to Gill, G. Hermon (Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942. ‘Australia in the War of 1939–1945’. Series 2) “Over the course of seven hours there were coordinated attacks on the U.S. held Philippines, Guam and Wake islands and on the British territories in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong.” This prompted the Americans and British to step up military armament production as further confrontation on the territories of Australia and New Zealand was deemed imminent.

As armament production increased, it was packed in wooden crates and transported to the docks where it stayed prior to being loaded on to transport ships. During this inactive period many insect species entered the crates possibly to find shelter and or hibernate.

Once the crates reached their destinations and were unloaded the insects (those that had survived the journey) were free to wander. In 1945, the first wasp Vespula germanica endemic to the Northern Hemisphere was discovered at an air force base near Hamilton in New Zealand, it has been suggested that a hibernating queen had arrived in a crate containing aircraft parts from Europe.

V. germanica was also found in Tasmania in 1959 and by 1978 had crossed the Tasman Sea and entered Australia. Now countless colonies are common place in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia. V. germanica nest in cavities that include holes in the ground, spaces under homes, wall crevices, eaves and rafters.

This predator having no known enemies attacks bee hives, killing bees at will -a major problem for the Australian and New Zealand honey industry. V. germanica needs no provocation and will attack all including humans with devastating results.

According to Elle Hunt in her article for ‘The Guardian’ (Jan 17th 2017) analysis shows that “Australia’s bees and wasps revealed to be as dangerous as its snakes, more than half of deaths from bites and stings between 2000 and 2013 were the result of anaphylactic shock.”

Was the introduction of V. germanica to Australia and New Zealand a simple mistake or a blatant error of judgement? Whatever the arguments the consequences are dire, these two countries have a major problem on their hands. Similarly much can be said of other nations whom transport their merchandise around the globe with the same complacent attitude.

The wasp solution – scientists have devised a plan to eradicate wasp colonies by introducing a parasite into the nests that will destroy all within, including eggs, larvae and adults. In the short term the plan might work, but in the long term it is doubtful given the vast areas that V. germanica has colonised in Australia. Moreover, how do you control the parasites? As we have stated for every action there is a reaction.

Another example of stowaway invasion is the ‘Brazilian Wandering’ spider also known as the (Banana spider) Phoneutria a genus of arachnids in the family Ctenidae. They are mainly found in northern South America, with one species in Central America. P. nigriventer a member of Ctenidae is a large arachnid and has a leg span of 13 to 18 cm (5 to 7 in). Their body length ranges from 17 to 48 mm. (⁴³⁄₆₄ to 1+⁵⁷⁄₆₄ in) 

The genus Phoneutria include a few species of spiders known to present a threat to humans. In densely populated areas, Phoneutria usually search for cover and dark places to hide during daytime. Leading them to hide in houses, clothes, cars, boots, boxes, log piles and in banana plantations their preferred hunting ground.

These arachnids will bite if accidentally disturbed injecting venom with serous consequences. There are many reports of humans being bitten when in contact with these creatures. For further reading on this arachnid visit the link below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoneutria

A few years ago we were making a film on aquatic creatures for the Vaasa Natural History museum in West Finland. Visiting the entomology section we noticed that on display was the ‘Brazilian Wandering’ spider P. nigriventer. We asked the curator where did it come from, because they are not found in Scandinavia. The reply was that the arachnid was discovered in a box of bananas at the local supermarket. Fortunately for the member of staff who discovered it, the spider had not survived it’s journey.

As we stated previously due to the lapse in concentration and due diligence, creatures including pests and disease are everywhere. In the next article on ‘Unseen invasion’ we look at the devastation pests and disease are able to create, starting with the borers. Until next time, BW, Nik.