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Northern giant hornet

21-12-2024

10:31 AM

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1 min read
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Overview:

The Department of Agriculture of the United States said that it has eradicated the Northern giant hornet, nicknamed the “murder 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’?