The Asian giant hornet , an incredibly large insect, has been spotted in the United States.
Just when the United States appears as the center of the current coronavirus pandemic, a new threat has appeared in the environment, specifically they have been seen in the state of Washington. It is the Asian giant hornet ( Vespa mandarinia ), an orange insect that holds the record for being the largest wasp in the world with a length of 5 cm and a total wingspan of 7.5 cm. Its bite can kill a person if it receives several bites, according to scientists from Washington State University. And it is the reason why they have received the nickname of “killer wasps” .
Beekeepers have seen scores of dead honey bees with their heads torn off, an alarming sight in a country where the bee population is already in rapid decline.
How did they get to the United States?
Scientists don’t know how these giant hornets , native to Asia, ended up in Washington state. Perhaps they have been hidden in some type of international cargo? It is probable.
According to experts, the hornet began to activate last month, when the queens emerged from hibernation to build nests and form colonies. They defend the stolen hive as their own and use the larvae to feed their own young.
One of the biggest concerns about these giant hornets is that they attack honey bee hives, killing the adult bees and devouring the larvae and pupae of bees. Its sting is huge and incredibly painful as it is loaded with a powerful neurotoxin that is capable of dissolving tissues. If a human being receives multiple bites, they could die, even if they are not allergic to insect bites.
While these insects are not typically aggressive towards people or pets, hornets can attack if provoked.
Referencia: Washington State Department of Agriculture
