Northern giant hornet

Table of Contents☰

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’?