On October 22, 2020, the first ever nest of the deadly Asian giant hornet was found by Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) entomologists on a property in Blaine, near the border with Canada. Now, there would be an attempt to eradicate the nest of wasps—the world’s largest hornet species, known as the ‘murder hornet’. A WSDA trapper collected two live Asian giant hornets, caught in a new type of trap placed by the agency in the area. In another trap, two more living hornets were found when WSDA staff arrived in the area to tag the previously trapped hornets with radio trackers and to follow one back to its nest.
Besides, several more of the invasive pest not native to the US were also caught in the same region, which will have negative effects on the environment, economy, and public health of Washington State if those become established. It is not clear how the wasps, measuring five centimetres, arrived in the US. WSDA has warned that the wasp could spread in North America and become permanently established if not eliminated.
The East-Asian and Japanese hornets usually do not attack people but are known for decimating honeybee colonies. They slaughter honeybees by literally biting their heads off. Thereafter, they occupy honeybee nests for up to a week or more, feeding on the pupae and larvae. In Japan, some 30 to 50 people die each year from their venomous and excruciating sting, which are hunted and eaten.
Asian giant hornets are the largest hornet species in the world, and are native to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. They are aggressive predators and hunt medium-to large-sized insects like other hornet species, large beetles, and mantises. They are especially known for feeding on honeybees and have the capability to quickly decimate local populations they come across with. They do not generally attack people or pets unless prompted, or threatened and are able to sting repeatedly. With a longer stinger, they are more dangerous than that of most other stinging insects as they contain neurotoxins. They can even puncture a beekeeping suit.
Courtesy: ndtv.com