Giant East Asian hornet poses bee threats with credit-card wingspan
Scientists in the United States and Canada are monitoring sightings of Vespa mandarinia, the large East Asian hornet nicknamed the “murder hornet,” after nests were found and destroyed in the Pacific Northwest. The wasp can reach about 1.6 inches in length with a wingspan of roughly 2.8 inches (about a credit card’s width) and a 6 mm stinger, and its powerful jaws can slice through honeybees. If established, it could seriously threaten pollinator populations, ecosystems, and crop yields. Officials urge not to disturb nests, to report sightings, and to support pollinator-friendly practices to help protect bees.