Northern giant hornet

About Northern giant hornet: 

• Scientific name: Vespa mandarinia
• It is the largest hornet in the world, measuring up to 2 inches long. 
• Habitat: They are known for inhabiting the lower altitude forest and avoiding large plains and high-altitude regions.
• Distribution: They are native to temperate regions in China, Korea, Japan, and India.
• It is an invasive species which poses a significant threat to insects and native pollinators.
• It is nicknamed as ‘Murder hornets’, can kill an entire beehive of honeybees in just 90 minutes.
• The hornets then defend the hive as their own, taking the brood to feed their own young.
• They can sting through most beekeeper suits, delivering almost seven times the amount of venom as a honey bee. Moreover, they have the ability to sting multiple times.
• They mainly feed on native insects: butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees, wasps, etc. 
• Ecological impact: It preys on honey bees and poses an indirect threat to plants that depend on honey bees for pollination.

Q1: What is an Invasive Species?

These are plants, animals, fungi, or microorganisms that are introduced to new environments outside of their native range and, as a result, have a negative impact on the ecosystems, economies, and/or human health.

News: Why and how did the United States eradicate ‘murder hornets’?

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