As if 2020 lacked issues, scientists are now warning that the US may be on the verge of a massive spread of murder hornets that are originally from Asia.
After being noticed in the mainland US for the first time earlier this year, continued witnessing of the insects are causing fear.
The official name of these hornets are the Asian giant hornets, named after their original habitats. The first male species of the kind was captured in Washington earlier this year. Since July, 7 more species have been identified across the country, sparking fear of an invasion.
According to entomologist David Crowder, if these giant hornets establish themselves in the US ecosystem, it would be the worst invasion species that anyone has seen so far. Not only can they destroy the local ecosystems, but they also can pose direct harm to humans via their venomous stings.
After analyzing the hornets in their original habitats in East Asia, scientists have concluded that there is chance that these insects may colonize parts of the West Coast such as Oregon and Washington and British Columbia in the next 2 decades.
Local authorities are taking the threat very seriously, as many fear that an invasive hornet may be the last nail in the coffin for the already struggling honeybees. For example, Washington state has set up 1,400 traps across the state so they can trace individual species back to their nests.
This way, the researchers can then eradicate the entire colony rather than get rid of a single species. Measuring at around 2 inches long, these hornets are the largest of their species, and are easily identifiable by their distinctive color scheme.
Because they outsize honeybees in their body mass, flying capabilities and power, they are considered a major threat for all bee species in the US. One hornet can kill up to 40 honeybees in just a minute, meaning that an organize attack can easily wipe out colonies of honeybees.
In the last 60 years, the honeybee population has declined by over 60% in the US. Honeybees are important for both the farmers who rely on their honey and for the various plants that rely on the bees for their reproduction.
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Replaced!