Posts Tagged: Vespa

Murder Hornets: Murder in the First Degree?

Want to learn about "murder hornets?" Entomologists cringe every time someone substitutes the moniker, "murder hornet," for the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. They probably think this qualifies as murder in the first degree! No, no, no! Don't call it a "murder hornet!"  A...

The Asian giant hornet, which the news media named "murder hornet." (Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Agriculture)

The Asian giant hornet, which the news media named "murder hornet." (Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Agriculture)

Good News on the Asian-Giant-Hornet News Front

California this year has faced the COVID-19 pandemic, disastrous wildfires, racial unrest, and political strife--a combination resulting in undue stress and overall fatigue. Should we now worry about those Asian giant hornets becoming residents of our Golden State? No, says entomologist...

The Asian giant hornet measures a little less than two inches long. A nest was recently discovered and destroyed near Blaine, Wash. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Department of Agriculture)

The Asian giant hornet measures a little less than two inches long. A nest was recently discovered and destroyed near Blaine, Wash. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Department of Agriculture)

Close-up of the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. (Photo courtesy of Washington Department of Agriculture)

Close-up of the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. (Photo courtesy of Washington Department of Agriculture)

What You Need to Know About That Invasive Giant Hornet

It's good to see Washington State University Extension's newly published, updated fact sheet on the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. You can view or download it here for free. Remember the massive media frenzy earlier this year when "the murder hornet" became a household word? The...

This is a female Vespa mandarinia japonica by Yasunori Koide. (Creative Commons photo)

This is a female Vespa mandarinia japonica by Yasunori Koide. (Creative Commons photo)

Screen shot of the life cycle that appears in the WSU Extension fact sheet on the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. (Courtesy of WSU)

Screen shot of the life cycle that appears in the WSU Extension fact sheet on the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. (Courtesy of WSU)

Trapping the Asian Giant Hornet

Just when folks were beginning to think "it may be over and done" regarding Asian giant hornet sightings,  it's not. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has just trapped its first Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia,  which the news media dubbed "the murder...

This is the Asian giant hornet trapped July 14 at Birch Bay, Whatcom County, Washington. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Food and Agriculture)

This is the Asian giant hornet trapped July 14 at Birch Bay, Whatcom County, Washington. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Food and Agriculture)

These Asian giant hornet images from the Washington State Department of Agriculture shows (from left), an example of a worker; the specimen collected July 14; an example of the queen.

These Asian giant hornet images from the Washington State Department of Agriculture shows (from left), an example of a worker; the specimen collected July 14; an example of the queen.

This map on Stephane De Greef's Facebook page, "Is This a Murder Hornet," shows the 10-mile radius where the Asian giant hornets were found. (Map courtesy of Stephane De Greef)

This map on Stephane De Greef's Facebook page, "Is This a Murder Hornet," shows the 10-mile radius where the Asian giant hornets were found. (Map courtesy of Stephane De Greef)

Incredible Work, and Timely, on 22 Species of Hornets

What an incredible work! And timely, too! While many folks are panicking about the first detected (and destroyed) colony of Asian giant hornets, aka “murder hornets,” in North America, three entomologists have just published research on this and the 21 other known species of hornets...

These images of the Asian giant hornet, aka "murder hornet," are published in the journal Insect Systematics and Diversity. (Images by Allan Smith-Pardo)

These images of the Asian giant hornet, aka "murder hornet," are published in the journal Insect Systematics and Diversity. (Images by Allan Smith-Pardo)

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