Murder Hornets Discovered in the United States

As if the year 2020 couldn't get any worse now comes news of another attack on the peace-loving population of these United States. The next threat is at least one we can see. Although, I personally would not want to see anything described as a "murder hornet" in anything but petri dish in a laboratory.

Granted these hornets, also known as the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarina), are believed to be responsible for an average of 50 deaths annually in Japan, are not considered a major threat to people. Well, a direct threat at least.

The swarms of the giant insects have the potential to devastate the United State's Honeybee populations. Which, to be honest, haven't been faring that well as lately anyway.

Entomologists in Washington State say they first noticed the insects in the country in December of last year. The life cycle of the insect really ramps up in April as the queens of the hives begin to awaken from hibernation.

As the worker insect scout the area for food for the hive they tend to attack and decimate local honeybees. The hornets attack the beehives by killing the adults and then eating the larvae and pupae of the emerging bees.  Researchers say just a few of these larger insects can destroy a hive in only a matter of hours.

As far as humans go, the sting from the giant hornet can be just as deadly. Granted it would take several stings to cause fatal results in a human being that is not allergic to the toxins used by the creatures.  The stings can be quite painful and result in what people have described as "flu-like" body aches and pains.

As of now, the Murder Hornet threat appears to be contained to the Pacific Northwest but 2020 has proven just how quickly things can spread if proper precautions are not taken. Let's hope this is one "pandemic" we can head off at the pass and keep contained and eventually eradicated from these United States.