As the weekend editor of The Verge, I strive to find a good mix of stories for our website visitors on Saturday and Sunday, keeping news about technology and politics up to date with the latest information about the corona virus and its effects, as well as other news of the day bring. On some days, the news is optimistic and interesting, and on other days, the authors of the script for 2020: The Horror Show interject Murder hornet Change of action because a pandemic without two-inch hornets that tear honeybees' heads off doesn't seem to be terrible enough.
The New York Times has the story of the giant Asian hornet that has recently arrived in the US to the horror of entomologists.
With queens that can grow up to two inches long, giant Asian hornets can use mandibles in the form of shark fins to eradicate a beehive in a few hours, decapitate the bees, and fly away with the thoraxes to feed their young. For larger targets, the strong poison and hornet's sting – long enough to pierce a beekeeper's suit – make for an agonizing combination that the victims have compared to hot metal going into their skin.
Asian giant hornets can fly at speeds of up to 32 km / h and their stings feel like "glowing thumbtacks". Fun!
For comparison:
Washington State Department of Agriculture
According to the Times, the arrival of these hornets in the United States (scientific name: Vespa mandarina) is particularly worrying not only because their stings hurt like hell and they are appalling to look at, but also because of their potential impact on the U.S. honeybee population, which already does is declining.
Since then, scientists have started an extensive hornet hunt, fearing that the invaders may decimate bee populations in the United States and build a presence so deep that all hope of extinction may be lost.
Read all about the hornet in the New York Times, but be warned that removing the images from your brain will be very difficult.
Have a beautiful Sunday!
