There’s plenty to learn about the so-called 'murder hornet,' which is the largest in the world.
You’ve probably heard of the “murder hornet,” or Asian giant 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. Keeping these insects out of Texas is important because they are formidable predators of honey bees, which are crucial for crop pollination.
The main problem caused by this hornet, Vespa mandarinia, is that it uses honey bees as a principal food source. This level of predation could decimate Texas honey bee populations. If our bee populations decreased, crop yields would greatly suffer, as would honey production.
It’s such a potentially big problem that Gov. Greg Abbott requested a task force be mobilized to prepare Texas against the Asian giant hornet’s arrival. The team of Texas A&M AgriLife experts aims to help protect Texans, crops and honey.
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