3d ago

Two-inch long ‘murder hornets’ eradicated from US, agriculture department says

www.theguardian.com Two-inch long ‘murder hornets’ eradicated from US, agriculture department says

World’s largest hornet, which killed 42 people in China in 2013, has been wiped out in US five years after first being spotted

Summary

The invasive northern giant hornet, nicknamed the "murder hornet," has been officially declared eradicated in the US, five years after first being detected in Washington state.

The hornets, which posed significant threats to honeybees and native insects, were wiped out through public cooperation, trapping efforts, and innovative tracking by researchers.

First spotted in 2019, the hornets decimated bee hives and could deliver dangerous stings. Four nests were destroyed in Washington by 2021.

Officials remain vigilant, though no confirmed sightings have occurred since 2021, marking a rare success in invasive species control.

20 comments

don't listen, it's a trap. I got this photo of OP this morning!!
- On the internet, no one knows you’re a murder hornet.

Eww gross. Look, it's eating larva. That's nasty
- LOL, bravo. I can hear his voice.

The hornet can sting through most beekeeper suits, deliver nearly seven times the amount of venom as a honeybee, and sting multiple times. At one point the Washington agriculture department ordered special reinforced suits from China.

I once got too close to a nest of Asian hornets. Best high I've ever had. Not recommended, though.

"Murder Hornets definitely gone." says sweating person.

_{well␣maybe␣not␣to␣that␣extent}

I just wanna know where I can get one of those suits.

Yay, 2020 is finally over

It shouldn't be that easy to eradicate an insect. This feels like "Good news, you don't have to worry about laundry now that the fire has consumed your house."
- You either have to be trolling, or don’t understand the concept of an invasive species and the environmental impact it can cause.
- I'd eradicate mosquitos and ticks in a heartbeat
  
  Don't forget the bedbugs!
- This feels like you lack basic understanding of ecological concepts.
- this is an insect that came to the us from china, and turned out to like the conditions in the us. Since the local wildlife isn't used to killer Hornets, nothing has defenses against them meaning they can absolutely dominate and kill everything if not controlled.

20 comments