The emergence of Murder Hornets or the Asian Giant Hornet in Washington State has even hit the news in Australia. They are the world’s largest hornet native to Japan and appear to be hitchhiking across the Pacific, with the first sightings last year on Vancouver Island and now further south in the U.S.
The huge (up to 4cm long and wingspan of 7cm) relentless hunter and very dangerous for European honey bees as well as native bees and insects. They can decimate bee colonies in days. They decapitate the bees, take the hive as their own and take the bee brood to feed their young. They can attack people if threatened, and have a highly toxic venom and have caused deaths in Japan. Interestingly, native Japanese honey bees have co-evolved with Asian giant hornets and are able to defend themselves.
The Giant Asian Hornet might be fuelling your nightmares but we don’t have them in Australia and want to keep it that way.
More info here.