Samantha Curtis and Gabriella Vitelli
Staff Writers
As if the corona virus weren’t enough, now the US has discovered a new species of hornets infiltrating Washington state. These hornets are known as the murder hornets because they decapitate bees. Several stings from them can also kill a human.
These hornets are native to east Asia and kill approximately 50 people each year in Japan. The hornet is around two inches long, about two times the size of a normal hornet. It possesses a set of jaws perfectly designed to snip the head off a honeybee. They have large orange-yellow heads, big prominent eyes, and their bodies have black and yellow stripes. They apparently made their way over to the United States in December, and there are four reported sightings.
The hornets do not tend to go after humans, but if they do, a traditional beekeeping suit will not protect against their stings, which contain seven times the venom as honey bees. The USDA has ordered special reinforced suits from China. The effect on humans is minimal after hearing what they do to bees. When they find a honey bee hive they invade the hive using their large jaws to kill the bees at a very fast speed. The hornets can kill 30,000 bees within hours and then have the hive as their own. As bad as their hornets are, they are even hard to kill, in the United States beekeepers are doing many trials with hornet traps, but if the queen is alive the population will continue. If you see one, first report it and stay away!
