Meet murder hornets, the pest killing off bees and invading our nightmares

If you didn’t think 2020 could get much worse, then only with the hornet invasion.

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa Mandarinia) is described as 1.5 inches to 2 inches long with an orange-yellow head and black stripes on its belly.

Kyoto Sangyo University Jun-ichi Takahashi, a researcher, said that the hornet species got its nickname “Murder Hornet” because of its poisonous venom, which corresponds to that of a venomous snake. according to a New York Times Play on Saturday that got social media talking about the terrible pest. Multiple stitches of this large hornet can be fatal. So much so that hornets kill up to 50 people annually in Japan alone.

And now they’re in the United States.

The great hornets were first seen in Washington in December in the United States. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) reviewed. It is not known how the giant hornets first arrived in North America, but insects often travel to other countries by international ships and other means of transportation. Until now, the hornet sightings were limited to the Pacific Northwest.

The giant hornet from East and Southeast Asia eats other insects such as wasps and bees. In fact, the hornet is known to wipe out full colonies of honeybees, which is alarming as bee populations are already declining. put them on vulnerable lists.

Just a few Asian giant hornets can destroy a honey beehive in a few hours. The large hornets tear off the bees’ heads with their spiked mandibles and then eat the bee’s breast.

If that’s not terrible enough, the spines of the giant Asian hornet are long enough to rummage through the beekeeping suits that normally protect people from bee stings.

In 2018 you became a YouTuber Coyote Peterson — known for Bite insects and let them bite deliberately – shown what it feels like to be stung by the hornet when he visited Japan. Spoiler alert: the hornet is Sting gets stuck in his skin how it pumps poison into his arm.

According to the WSDA, which has actively monitored the insect’s activities, the giant Asian hornet spike is longer than that of a typical wasp. It can sting several times. And even a single prick can give off a large dose of poison that can damage skin tissue.

If you want to avoid being stung by the giant Asian hornet, WSDA has some suggestions. While these hornets generally don’t attack humans or pets, You can attack when threatened or protecting their nest. So do not rely on typical beekeeping protective clothing, as this is not enough to protect against stings.

If you find a colony, do not try to remove or destroy it. Report it to the WSDA or your local agriculture department immediately. And it goes without saying that you should never approach the giant Asian hornet if you are allergic to bee or wasp stings.

Of course, with a nickname like Murder Hornet, many people shared their horror of the insect.

“Hornets. Sure, 2020. Give us everything. Hypno frogs. Fecal storms. Tsunamis on the toilet. A sequel to Cats. We can take it.” Comedian Patton Oswalt tweeted on Saturday.

Tweeted Author / producer Ben Wexler“I remember exactly how I said a week ago: ‘Well, at least there are no hornets.'”

Murder hornets. Sure, 2020. Give us everything. Hypno frogs. Fecal snowstorms. Toilets tsunamis. A sequel to CATS. We can take it. https://t.co/DSDpgKhKzQ

– Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) May 2, 2020

I remember exactly how I said a week ago: “Well, at least there are no hornets.”

– Ben Wexler (@mrbenwexler) May 2, 2020

I hope there’s a window between the Covid-19 quarantine and the hornets that are getting us ready for a minor league baseball team called Murder Hornets.

– South Paw (@nycsouthpaw) May 2, 2020

Where was “Murder Hornets” when we chose my son’s soccer team name?

– Devon Sawa (@DevonESawa) May 2, 2020

It is the fifth month of the year.
And murderous hornets are here
Beheading their prey
And grow in fluctuations.
Your motives are still unclear.

– Limericking (@Limericking) May 2, 2020