You’ve probably heard of the Asian giant hornet, or “murder hornet,” by now. It’s the world’s largest hornet. Native to Asia, it was sighted for the first time in Washington state and Canada in late 2019. Since then, additional specimens have been confirmed in May of 2020 from Langley, B.C., Canada and Custer, Washington. This suggests that this invasive hornet species has successfully overwintered in the United States and Canada. Keeping these insects out of Texas is important because they are formidable predators of honey bees, which are crucial for crop pollination.
To learn more about the Asian Giant Hornet visit:
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/insects/murder-hornet/
https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2020/05/11/get-to-know-the-asian-giant-hornet-or-murder-hornet/
https://u.tamu.edu/asian-giant-hornet-lookalikes
