Murder Hornet

Why in news?

Recently, US had completely eradicated the Murder Hornet species in the country.

• Murder Hornet- Northern giant hornet are nicknamed as murder hornet, are an invasive species from Asia.
• Features – It is the largest member of the wasp family, measuring 2 inches in length and is the world's largest hornet.
• Their stingers deliver as much venom as a snake or 7 times that of a honeybee and its powerful sting can kill a human.
• Threat to other species – It poses a significant threat to insects and native pollinators.
• It poses a threat to bees and agriculture, can kill an entire beehive of honeybees in just 90 minutes.
• Slaughter phase – They kill entire hives by decapitating the bees.
• The hornets then defend the hive as their own, taking the brood to feed their own young
• Threat to humans – While attacks on humans are fairly rare, the insects are reported to kill from 50 to 75 people each year.

Murder Hornet 1^st came under the spotlight in 2013 when they killed at least 42 people in China, and seriously injured 1,675. In USA, it was 1^st spotted in Washington State near the Canadian border in 2019.

• Co-evolution of Asian bees – These bees will swarm onto the hornet interloper and beat their wings until they cook their quarry alive.
• Such bee-induced temperatures have been measured to reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reference

The Indian Express| Murder Hornet Eradicated in US